“Twisted Umbilical Cord Leads to High-Risk Pregnancy and Caesarean Delivery in China”

A woman surnamed Chen (surname Hua) from Jiangsu Province in mainland China learned during the 25th week of pregnancy that the fetus in her womb showed signs of growth retardation. In addition, the umbilical cord also had too many turns and dense spirals. In the end, she followed the doctor’s advice and had a caesarean section at 34 weeks of pregnancy. It turned out that the fetus was not only underweight, but the umbilical cord, which was about 50 centimeters long, had also been twisted 54 times into a spiral shape.

According to comprehensive land media reports, a woman surnamed Chen in Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, welcomed her daughter Xuanxuan (pseudonym) who had been in an incubator for 37 days on the 18th of this month and was discharged from the hospital. Increase some, has grown to 2.64 kg (2640 g). In fact, Ms. Chen was told by the doctor during the 25th week of pregnancy that Xuanxuan’s umbilical cord had too many loops and too dense spirals. Regarding this, Niu Huiyuan, Chief Physician of the Department of Obstetrics at Huai’an Maternal and Child Health Hospital, said, “We estimate that the weight of the fetus is equivalent to 23 weeks of pregnancy, which is already lower than that of fetuses of the same gestational age. The main reason is that the umbilical cord is excessively torsion.”

Niu Huiyuan explained that when she was helping Ms. Chen during the prenatal examination, she found that although the ultrasound showed that Xuanxuan’s fetal movement was normal, but because the fetus was getting longer and smaller, it was suggested that Ms. Chen should terminate her pregnancy and have a caesarean section when she was nearly 35 weeks old. “Pregnant 34 Week, B-ultrasound (ultrasonic wave) monitors that the fetus is only 30 weeks pregnant. (Ms. Chen) After being hospitalized, we gave treatment to promote fetal lung maturation, communicated with the pregnant woman about the condition, and considered that the child’s intrauterine growth retardation and the tendency to stop growing , it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy.”

On the day of the caesarean section on April 12, Niu Huiyuan discovered that the umbilical cord in Chen’s abdomen had been over-twisted 54 turns into a spiral shape, and Xuanxuan’s birth weight was 1.65 kg (1650 grams), but for Chen, who was nearly 35 weeks pregnant, According to the statement, the child’s weight was extremely low, so the fetus was immediately transferred to the neonatology department of the hospital for treatment.

Niu Huiyuan pointed out that in fact, the fetal movement in the pregnant woman’s abdomen, whether it is stretching arms, moving legs, or even turning in circles, will cause the umbilical cord to twist, generally within the range of 6 to 11 turns, and will not affect the blood supply of the fetus. However, if the degree of torsion hinders blood flow, the fetus may suffer from intrauterine growth retardation and even death due to insufficient blood supply.

Niu Huiyuan said that once a pregnant woman learns that there is a problem with the umbilical cord in the abdomen during the prenatal checkup, there is no need to be overly nervous. Just monitor the fetal movement closely and pay attention to each checkup. “Because the B-ultrasound (ultrasound) Even some other auxiliary methods can detect some special abnormalities in advance, and timely intervention and treatment are better for the fetus.”