Umbilical cord: what it is used for, how it is treated and when it falls
The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the placenta, and serves to nourish the baby when it is in the mother's womb. The cord contains three blood vessels: a vein and two arteries. The vein carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood from the placenta to the fetus, while the two arteries carry non-oxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta. Its consistency is gelatinous, whitish in color, from 50 to 60 centimeters long and 2 cm thick. It is resistant and not very compressible. Its tortuous appearance is due to the fact that the two arteries are twisted around the vein. From one "end of the cord c" is the connection with the placenta, while the other end inserts into the "navel" of the fetus. It is an element so rich in stem cells (the basic cells destined to form all organs) that it can also be donated and stored for scientific research and treatment of blood diseases.
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What happens after birth?
Immediately after giving birth, the umbilical cord is cut by about 8-10 centimeters. It is closed with a rubber band or with a plastic clip, and wrapped with a dry sterile gauze. The baby's first breath and the cut of the umbilical cord transform the baby's blood circulation. It is at this moment that the double circulation, venous and arterial, which is essential for life, begins. The newborn can breathe normally and live detached from the mother.
Umbilical cord dressing: how is it done?
Before it falls, the umbilical stump must be medicated and kept clean and dry, to avoid any infections. But how to do it? Mothers are often nervous about it, but the hospital staff will instruct them and note how simple the dressing is. The stump should be medicated twice a day, getting hydrogen peroxide, denatured alcohol, sterile gauze and elastic retinas. changed the diaper, and before closing it, the mother with clean and dry hands treats the stump: cleans the stump and the surrounding of the navel with a sterile gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide, then wipes the area thoroughly with another sterile gauze , and finally wraps with a gauze moistened with denatured alcohol the whole segment medicated with hydrogen peroxide. The alcohol does not burn, rather it bothers the child because it is cold. With an elastic net the gauze moistened with alcohol are held firmly, then the whole is packed by closing the diaper over it. It is important to avoid excessive moisture for the umbilical stump, so it dries out faster and is eventually ready to fall off.
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When does it fall?
What's left of the umbilical cord falls off pretty soon. The umbilical vessels remaining in the severed part are thrombosed rapidly, and the cord still attached to the navel dries up, taking on a blackish-brown color. Normally the cord detaches and falls between the fifth and tenth day of life. fall, it is better to continue to dress the navel for a few days, until it is completely healed.
Umbilical cord around the neck: is it a real risk?
One of the great risks associated with the cord is that it can be crushed, preventing the exchange of blood and nourishment between the mother and the baby. In particular, this can happen in case of premature rupture of the waters, if the cord ends up in the opening (procidenza del cordone). Another risk for the newborn is the umbilical cord around the neck. It is much feared because it is believed to strangle the baby, but in fact it is a very common occurrence: the midwife moves it as soon as the baby's head comes out. It's often seen on ultrasound, and there's not much to worry about: until the cord is cut after birth, the baby won't breathe through that. It is the same reason why a water birth is indeed possible. The percentage of accidents related to a nuchal umbilical cord is very low.
