9 Surprising Facts About The Cord Around A Baby’s Neck
A nuchal cord (cord around the neck) is one of many things that mothers-to-be fear about childbirth. The thought of their precious baby being ‘strangled’ by their umbilical cord can cause so much worry.
Luckily, unborn babies get nutrients and oxygen via the umbilical cord, not by breathing it in through their nose and mouth, which may eliminate some fear right there. They don’t need their neck to breathe.
This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to leave a baby’s umbilical cord intact (uncut) for at least 2 minutes after the birth, because it’s the life support system for the baby until his head is born. It’s the very same reason why babies don’t drown during a water birth, because they have an oxygen supply already attached, and don’t take their first breath until they are stimulated by air. You can read more about why it’s important to delay cord clamping here.
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/cord-clamping-delaying-cord-clamping#.VDwhoGddWi0
Here are some interesting facts about nuchal cords that every mother-to-be and father-to-be must know before they give birth…