What is the umbilical cord?

The umbilical cord is a tube-like structure that connects a developing baby to the placenta in the mother’s womb.

It works like a lifeline. It carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby and removes waste from the baby back to the placenta.

It usually has three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein, all surrounded by a soft jelly-like substance called Wharton’s jelly to protect them.

• What is the Wharton’s jelly?

  • Jelly-like substance in the umbilical cord

  • Protects the 3 blood vessels (2 arteries, 1 vein)

  • Acts like a cushion to keep blood flow safe

  • Made of water, collagen, and cells

  • Keeps the cord strong and flexible

• What does the umbilical cord do?

  • Connects the baby to the placenta

  • Carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby

  • Removes waste (like carbon dioxide) from the baby to the placenta

  • Helps the baby grow and stay healthy in the womb

  • Works like a lifeline between mother and baby

• How Does the Umbilical Cord Work?

  • The umbilical vein carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby. These come from the mother’s blood but don’t mix directly with the baby’s blood.

  • The two umbilical arteries take waste products (like carbon dioxide and urea) from the baby’s blood back to the placenta, where the mother’s body gets rid of them.

  • The cord is protected by Wharton’s jelly, which surrounds the blood vessels and keeps them from being compressed or twisted as the baby moves. This jelly acts like a cushion.

  • The cord’s blood flow is kept moving by the baby’s heartbeat, which pushes blood in and out through the vessels continuously.

  • This system supplies everything the baby needs to grow—oxygen, glucose, amino acids, and vitamins—and clears away harmful waste, all without the mother and baby’s blood ever mixing.

  • The cord stays connected until birth, when it is clamped and cut shortly after the baby is delivered, and the baby starts to breathe and feed on its own.

What Happens if the Umbilical Cord Malfunctions?

If the umbilical cord doesn’t work properly, it can affect how much oxygen and nutrients the baby receives. This can lead to growth problems, distress, or even danger for the baby, especially during pregnancy or birth.

Possible Problems and Effects:

• Cord Compression: If the cord is squeezed (e.g. from baby’s position), blood flow can slow down. This may cause the baby’s heart rate to drop (called fetal distress).

• Knots or Twists: A true knot or too much twisting can block blood flow. If severe, it can stop oxygen delivery to the baby.

• Cord Prolapse: The cord slips into the birth canal before the baby. It can get compressed during delivery, cutting off oxygen.

• Single Umbilical Artery: If one artery is missing, there may be a higher risk of birth defects or slow growth.

• Placental Problems: Since the cord is connected to the placenta, any damage or detachment can stop the cord from working, putting the baby at serious risk.

Doctors monitor the cord using ultrasound and heart rate checks to catch problems early. If something goes wrong, they may decide to deliver the baby early to keep it safe.

Favourite part/ note/ summary- The umbilical cord is what connectes the fetus too the placenta. Inside the umbilical cord There are 3 blood vessels-two artries and one vein. And this is all sour ou dead by a jelly like substances called the Wharton’s jelly, which protecteur the blood vessels from squishing. If the umbilical cord malfunctions the fetus has a low chance of survival due to the lack of oxygen, nutrients, minerals, vitamin, blood etc….thank you for reading.