At 30 weeks pregnant, is the umbilical cord wrapped around 1 round?

Question
Hello doctor,
The doctor asked me to ask if the umbilical cord is wrapped around 1 round at 30 weeks? 30 weeks pregnant, my head turned down, will there be any effect, doctor? Thank you doctor.
Anonymous customer
Answer
Answered by Master, Doctor Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Hello,
With the question "Is it okay to wrap the umbilical cord 1 round at 30 weeks? ", the doctor would like to answer as follows:
The first position is considered the most favorable position for childbirth. In about 80% of pregnancies, the fetus will begin to turn from the 28th to 29th week of pregnancy. The remaining 20% ​​will fall into 2 cases of early or later turning (before signs of labor).
The placenta is a double-ended conduit to carry nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood to the fetus, and also to carry metabolic products from the fetal blood to the mother's blood for excretion. The primary job of the placenta is to transport oxygen from the mother's blood to the fetal blood. The umbilical cord is usually about 50-60cm in length. The longer the umbilical cord is, the higher the risk of it getting wrapped around the baby's neck, arms, or legs or getting knotted. But there are times when the cord itself is shorter than the above length (for example, the entire length of the cord is less than 35cm, it is called absolute short) or when the fetus is busy moving in the uterus, making the cord inherent normal length, but it is wrapped around the neck, legs or trunk, making the cord shorten (this is called relatively short). Theoretically, the movement of the fetus should cause the umbilical cord to stretch and lengthen. The long umbilical cord can get caught in the limbs or wrap around the neck of the fetus, causing the risk of continuous or partial blood vessel blockage.
The rate of fetuses with umbilical cord wrapped around the neck is quite common with about 12% in the 24-26 week pregnancy, 37% in the term fetus. The good news is that the vast majority of cases of umbilical cord wrap are not associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality (perinatal mortality is the death of a fetus and newborn within 1 week of birth). . That's why doctors rarely notify pregnant mothers that the fetus has the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck, except in serious cases that threaten the baby's life.
So in your case, the 30-week fetus turns its head down to the uterus, and the umbilical cord is wrapped 1 round, there is nothing to worry about. You should periodically follow up with the appointment of an obstetrician-gynecologist.
If you still have questions about 30 weeks pregnant, the umbilical cord wraps 1 round, you can go to the hospital of Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!