What is the importance of the cord that connects you to your baby?

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What is The Importance Of The Cord That Connects
You To Your Baby?

• Cord blood stem cell preservation

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Introduction

• Some poets have taken the poetic liberty to
  phrase the umbilical cord as the string of
  life. We dont deny that either. Thats because,
  during pregnancy, it is this cord that connects
  the mother to the baby physically and
  emotionally.
• And undeniably, this is the route to love and
  nurture, while the baby is still slowly growing
  inside.
• But, the functions of the cord dont end here
  only.

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The Umbilical Cord is a Tube-Like Structure

• The umbilical-cord is a tube-like structure,
  which is formed during the early phases of the
  embryological development.
• Made up of two small arteries and one long vein,
  it connects the foetus with the placenta and
  becomes the supply line of blood and food for the
  developing baby.

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The Umbilical Cord is a Tube-Like Structure

• The cord becomes progressively longer until the
  28th week and reaches an average length of 22 to
  24 inches. The length of the of the cord, depends
  upon the measurement of the embryo and the
  foetus, which is known as crown-rump length.
• Therefore, the umbilical cord in its full-term is
  usually about 50 centimetres long and 2
  centimetres wide.

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The Umbilical Cord is Also Known as The Supply
Line

• Since it carries the blood back and forth between
  the baby and the placenta through the three
  vessels two arteries and one vein, the umbilical
  cord is also known as The Supply Line. While
  the arteries carry the blood away from foetus,
  the vein the carries blood towards the foetus
  heart.

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The Umbilical Cord is Also Known as The Supply
Line

• Going deeper, we found out that the blood in the
  umbilical arteries has impurities and waste
  products, like carbon dioxide. It carries the
  waste or impure products across the placenta to
  the bloodstream and finally to the lungs. It
  likewise allows all the impurities to be breathed
  out from the lungs, without affecting the growing
  baby even by an inch.

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The Umbilical Cord is Also Known as The Supply
Line

• Once the impurities from the blood is released,
  the umbilical vein during such time helps in
  transporting the oxygenated blood and the
  much-need nutrients from the mothers food to the
  placenta and finally to the baby, thereby
  nurturing it.
• The cord is not directly connected to the
  mothers circulatory system, but transfers
  materials to and from the maternal blood without
  direct mixing.

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The Umbilical Vessels are Protected

• Since these vessels are working so hard behind
  nurturing a small life inside with all the love
  and care, it needs to be sheltered too. Isnt it?
  Therefore, a gelatine-like substance known as the
  Whartons Jelly protects the functional
  characteristics of the umbilical vessels. The
  cord is coiled like spring around this jelly,
  encouraging the babys movement. The coiling
  pattern establishes itself by the ninth week.

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Umbilical Cord Abnormalities

• Some of the common umbilical cord abnormalities
  are
• Length The cord may be too long or short.
• Placenta Insertion The cord may not connect to
  the placenta properly
• Cord Compression Nuchal cord or entanglement of
  the umbilical cord around the fetal neck.
• Cord abnormalities may lead to problems during
  pregnancy or during labor and delivery.

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Slight Delay in Clamping Wont Harm!

• Since are no nerves in the cord, cutting the cord
  is a painless and a quick process. After delivery
  the cord vessels close down on their own. While
  the arteries close first and save the blood loss
  to the placenta from the baby, the vein closes
  slightly later, allowing the blood to continue to
  return to the baby. As a result, slight delay in
  clamping wont cause any harm.

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Time to Preserve Your Babys Umbilical Cord

• But after clamping, the cord is not treated as a
  medical waste by the health practitioners
  anymore. Being aware of the fact that both the
  umbilical blood and tissue is rich in stem cells
  like Haematopoietic (HSCs), Mesenchymal (MSCs)
  and Epithelial (EpSCs), today there is an option
  for cord blood banking. However, as parents, you
  should carefully assess multiple factors before
  you zero down on the cord blood banking company
  whom you will entrust to secure your babys
  precious stem cells.

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About CordlifeIndia

• CordlifeIndia provides services like advantages
  of umbilical cord stem cells, stem cell
  preservation.
• CordlifeIndia is a consumer healthcare company
  catering to the mother and child segment.
• We provide reliable healthcare solutions through
  innovation, technological advancement and
  commitment to quality .

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References

• https//www.cordlifeindia.com/blog/importance-cord
  -connects-baby/
• http//familyeducation.com/pregnancy/fetal-growth-
  development/role-umbilical-cord
• http//sciencing.com/organs-make-up-circulatory-sy
  stem-8566255.html
• http//marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/umbilical-cord-a
  bnormalities.aspx