Vaginal birth is surrounded by myths and truths, and lately, with the boom in the humanization of childbirth, women have become more aware and have made different choices from those we are used to seeing and experiencing.
Cesarean is a great mode of delivery, it does have its benefits, but the most appropriate and ideal is to do as our grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and even mothers did—and today it is desired and unfortunately even fought for by many pregnant women: vaginal birth!
Myths and Truths
In this series we will unveil some myths and truths that are, in theory, excuses so that vaginal birth can happen peacefully and you can know everything about vaginal birth, what can actually interfere with it.
Which situations should truly be avoided for a vaginal delivery, and which “problems” might simply be medical excuses or even reasons to induce women to have a cesarean without real need—or even, one could say, without desire.
So many stories reach me from women frustrated by not having the much-dreamed-of vaginal birth. Well, let’s begin to unravel the myths of vaginal birth, and the first item on the list is the umbilical cord, are cord loops really harmful to the baby during a vaginal birth? Let’s find out! Everything about vaginal birth.
Myths and Truths About Vaginal Birth – The Umbilical Cord
Vaginal birth has often been avoided for this reason: the umbilical cord, cord loop, or more popularly, the cord wrapped around the baby’s neck. But is this really a reason for a cesarean? Recently, talking to a specialist, I discovered that the cord is elastic! Yes! It stretches a lot!
Formation of the Umbilical Cord
And there’s no such thing as a short cord either. The cord is made of a type of firm jelly that stretches, and it was made to go wherever the baby goes, to wherever it turns in the belly, so there are no problems with a cord loop, whether single, double, or even triple. What scares mothers is seeing the baby born a bit purple with vaginal birth, and this was also something I questioned when I found out the cord is elastic.
Is a Cord Loop Dangerous?
So why isn’t a cord loop a problem? There is a myth that it can “strangle” the baby, but know this isn’t possible since the cord is soft, and even a double loop, the baby doesn’t breathe the way we do inside the mother’s womb.
The baby receives all the nutrients and also all the necessary oxygen through the placenta and umbilical cord, but this is everything about vaginal birth you need to know to stay calm. Below are “strong” scenes—of course, it is birth, so be aware that these are real scenes with exposure of the vagina at the time of birth, but I highly recommend it, it is a sublime moment in a woman’s life.
Explanatory Video
But suffering from lack of oxygenation can happen during vaginal birth, but not because of the cord loop—rather from the contraction of the uterus, which can reduce the fetal heartbeat during the peak of contraction. The contraction can compress the cord and thus reduce the flow of oxygen to the baby, which is why it is very important to monitor the baby during vaginal birth.
True Knot in the Cord
Another factor that can be the real reason for problems with the umbilical cord is the true cord knot. This knot happens due to the baby’s movements inside the uterus and, especially, if there is an excess of amniotic fluid. The pressure on the cord during birth, along with the knot, can call for extra care but is also not an impediment for a vaginal birth.
Reader’s Experience
Reader Patricia Amaral had a hospital vaginal birth but with a humanized approach. She tells what it was like to see her baby born with a double cord loop and shares everything about vaginal birth, which was the best experience of her life. “I waited for Emanuel with so much anticipation… The obstetrician we chose was a strong supporter of humanized vaginal birth.
He gave me all the instructions to have my child through vaginal birth, even if it was in a hospital, I didn’t mind, I wanted the real sensation of giving birth. On December 22, at 41 weeks of pregnancy, my water broke and my husband and I went to the hospital. Once there, I felt strong pain, the doctor on duty examined me, and I was already 4 cm dilated—which was all I wanted!
I was sent for an ultrasound because he said he suspected placenta previa; it was a scare since no one had mentioned this during my pregnancy. The ultrasound was normal, but he found a way to try to send me for a cesarean even with my dilation; my baby had two loops of the umbilical cord.
I stood firm and called the obstetrician who had been following me, and even though my insurance didn’t cover the delivery, he offered to do the vaginal birth. Emanuel was born on the 23rd at 00:12, weighing 3,670 kg and measuring 49 cm, by vaginal delivery and with two cord loops around his neck. He came straight to my arms and started breastfeeding immediately, so I can say, if the baby is well, there is nothing stopping a vaginal birth.”
Home vaginal births almost always have the help of professionals, and they use a device to listen to the baby’s heart and check that everything is all right. If the heartbeat is good and there are no signs of fetal distress, vaginal birth can proceed smoothly. Remember, an umbilical cord loop is no longer an obstacle to vaginal birth happening, talk to your obstetrician.
See also: How to care for a baby—dressing and cutting nails
Photo: f1uffster (Jeanie)
