In all mammals, the umbilical cord is the only organ that physically connects the placenta of the mother to her fetus, at the level of her future. navel.
40 to 60 centimeters long and 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, the umbilical cord allows nutritional exchanges between the fetus and the mother. It usually sports a pearly white color.
Inside, it is made up of two arteries and a vein: the first two lead back to the placenta venous blood from the fetus while the second provides the fetus with blood rich in oxygen, nutrients, antibodies or even hormones that it needs to develop. All of these exchanges take place through the placenta, which filters the maternal blood to prevent contamination of the fetus. The mother provides the fetus with the oxygen and nutrients it needs, while the fetus sends back carbon dioxide and wastes from its metabolism.
Not all umbilical cords are the same. Some may be too short (less than 30 cm) or conversely too long. In this case, a knot may form as a result of the movements of the fetus in the mother’s womb. This situation should be monitored, as the oxygen supply of the fetus can be reduced. Sometimes the fetus can also “get tangled” with the umbilical cord, which wraps around the neck or a limb. If the winding is loose, it will not cause any complications a priori. On the other hand, if it is tight or multiple, the oxygen-rich blood may have more difficulty reaching the fetus, especially during contractions. During childbirth, it will then be necessary to do so as quickly as possible.
In about 2% of pregnancies, the cord may contain only one artery. This finding usually diagnosed during an ultrasound can reveal a malformation of the urogenital system or of the heart. By its composition, which can be analyzed by ultrasound, cordocentesis or after childbirth, the umbilical cord provides a lot of data on the health of the fetus during pregnancy.
What happens to the cord after childbirth?
When birth, the umbilical cord is cut, since it is no longer useful to the baby. They breathe independently and will find the nutrients they need in breast milk or formula.
If it is sometimes outright thrown away, the umbilical cord can be recovered for research, because it contains so-called hematopoietic stem cells. They can be transformed into any blood cell (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) and benefit people with blood diseases.
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