The umbilical cord is the organ that provides the baby with the nutrients it needs to develop during pregnancy, as well as providing oxygenated blood.
Umbilical cord blood is so important that it is now stored for stem cell treatment.
Beyond all these characteristics, it is the bond of love between the mother and the baby, because, without this, the life of the fetus would not be possible
It is formed between the fifth and twelfth week of gestation, it has a helical shape, it generally contains between 10 and 12 helices, it can measure between 50 and 56 centimeters.
It consists of two umbilical arteries and an umbilical vein, all immersed in Wharton’s jelly (loose mucous connective tissue that makes the cord resistant and prevents it from tangling).
They are located in the shape of a triangle: the arteries at the base and the vein at the vertex.
Important functions of the umbilical cord:
- Diet: Provides the nutrients that the mother provides to the fetus through the placenta.
- Breathing: It is responsible for transporting blood filled with oxygen.
- Excretion. The carbon dioxide released by the baby during breathing and the residues of its feeding are expelled through the umbilical cord.
- High stem cell content. Embryonic stem cells can be converted into cells of any type: skin, nervous tissue, or those that make up the heart or kidneys. This allows them to be stored and used for the treatment of diseases such as childhood leukemia or spinal cord or heart injuries.
- Antibody transmission. This happens near the end of pregnancy, when the mother sends the antibodies generated by her body to the fetus so that it develops its immune system.
There is no doubt that the process of creating a life is wonderful, but the umbilical cord is even more so!