The umbilical cord is essential for carrying nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. Because it connects directly to the placenta, it is the baby’s lifeline. The placenta’s attachment to the umbilical cord can differ, and this can affect the mother’s and the child’s health.
The placenta’s attachment to the umbilical cord typically follows a typical pattern. Nevertheless, there might be variations in some circumstances that cause problems. Healthcare professionals and expectant parents can monitor potential risks by having a better understanding of these types of attachments.
The various forms of umbilical cord attachment, normalcy, and potential risks associated with deviations will all be covered in this article. Being knowledgeable can guarantee the best care throughout pregnancy and provide peace of mind.
| Type of Attachment | Description |
| Central Attachment | The umbilical cord is attached in the center of the placenta, which is considered the norm and ensures good blood flow. |
| Marginal Attachment | The cord is attached at the edge of the placenta, which may lead to reduced blood flow but often poses no serious risk. |
| Velamentous Attachment | The cord attaches to the membranes rather than the placenta itself, which can lead to complications during delivery if not monitored. |
| Eccentric Attachment | The cord is attached off-center but still within the body of the placenta, generally considered normal and safe. |
There are differences in the way the umbilical cord binds to the placenta; some are deemed normal, while others may be dangerous. Comprehending the distinct forms of attachment is crucial for overseeing a child’s growth, since certain deviations may result in difficulties during gestation or childbirth. This article will outline the typical forms of umbilical cord attachment, define normal, and discuss potential risks when things don’t go according to plan.
- Norm
- Pathologies
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Norm
The umbilical cord, or, as it can also be called, the umbilical cord, is an elongated flagellum, inside which blood vessels pass. They are necessary so that the fetus during its intrauterine life receives all the necessary nutrients for growth and development. A normal umbilical cord looks like a gray-blue strand that is attached to the placenta. Normally, it is formed at the earliest stage of pregnancy and continues to develop along with the growing baby. The umbilical cord can be easily visualized already in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. It is clearly visible during an ultrasound examination. Also, using ultrasound, the doctor can assess the condition of the actively forming placental tissue. During the examination, the doctor also evaluates how the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta. The umbilical cord is finally formed only by the 2nd month from the moment of conception. As the umbilical cord grows, its length also increases. At first, the umbilical cord reaches only a few centimeters in length. Gradually, it increases and reaches, on average, 40-60 cm. The final length of the umbilical cord can only be determined after childbirth. While the baby is in the mother"s womb, the umbilical cord may curl up a little.
Normally, the umbilical cord attaches to the center of the placenta. Doctors call this location central. In this case, intrauterine development proceeds physiologically. The blood vessels that are in the umbilical cord reach the placenta and provide sufficient blood flow. With eccentric attachment of the umbilical cord, it is attached not to the central part of the placental tissue, but closer to its edge. Usually, in this case, the umbilical cord does not reach the edge of the placenta by a couple of centimeters. Eccentric attachment of the umbilical cord is usually not accompanied by the development of any adverse functional disorders. However, the paracentral attachment of the umbilical cord to the placental tissue requires doctors to be quite attentive to the development of pregnancy. The easiest way to determine the type of attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta is if the placental tissue is located along the anterior or lateral wall of the uterus.
It becomes considerably more challenging to identify the type of attachment if the placenta is situated on the back wall for whatever reason. It is preferable to perform exams on expert-level devices in this situation. This enables you to obtain more precise and instructive results.
Nonetheless, pregnancy does not always result in the formation of the umbilical cord’s central attachment to the placental fabric. In this instance, abnormal attachment choices may result in the emergence of multiple functional disorders.
Pathologies
Doctors distinguish several abnormal options for attaching the umbilical cord to the placenta. So, the umbilical cord can be directly attached to the edge of the placenta. Experts call such attachment to the regional. This condition is characterized by the fact that the blood vessels of the umbilical cord are close enough to the edge of the placenta. The side attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta is not always the reason leading to the development of dangerous complications during pregnancy. Obstetrician-gynecologists especially distinguish the condition in which the umbilical cord is located at a distance of less than 0.5 of the placenta radius from the edge. In this case, the risk of developing various complications is quite high. Another clinical option for attaching the umbilical cord to the placenta is shell. Also, this condition is called fervus. In this case, the blood vessels that are in the umbilical cord are attached to the amniochorial membrane.
Normally, the arterial vessels that are in the umbilical cord are covered with a warton jelly. This jacket protects arteries and veins that are available in the umbilical cord from various damage. With the shell attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta, the blood vessels are not covered by Varton jacket throughout its entire length. This contributes to the fact that the risk of developing various traumatic damage to arteries and veins is quite high. According to statistics, the shell attachment of the umbilical cord is found during pregnancy with one baby in approximately 1.2% of cases. If the expectant mother is expecting twins, then in such a situation the risk of developing this pathology increases and is already almost 8.8%. In obstetric practice, there are cases when the umbilical cord can change its attachment to the placenta. The reasons for this can be different. This can be due to inaccuracies in determining the initial place of attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta (the notorious human factor), as well as due to the migration of placental tissue during pregnancy. Note that a change in the place of attachment of the umbilical cord still does not happen often.
During pregnancy, the placenta’s attachment to the umbilical cord is vital to the development of the fetus. Even though the majority of attachments are harmless and normal, it’s crucial for parents to be aware of the possible dangers when there are abnormalities.
Variations in attachment style can occasionally result in complications, but these problems are frequently identified early on with routine prenatal care. To protect the mother and child, doctors can keep a careful eye on the pregnancy.
Parents can feel more at ease about their baby’s health by being informed and collaborating with healthcare professionals. They will know what to look out for and how to act if something out of the ordinary happens.
