The umbilical cord connects a baby in the womb to its mother. It runs from an opening in your baby’s stomach to the placenta in the womb. The average cord is about 50cm (20 inches) long.
What does the umbilical cord do?
The umbilical cord carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta into your baby’s bloodstream.
The umbilical cord is made up of:
- one vein that carries blood rich in oxygen and nutrients from you to your baby
- two arteries that return deoxygenated blood and waste products, such as carbon dioxide, from your baby back to the placenta
These blood vessels are enclosed and protected by a sticky substance called Wharton's jelly, which itself is covered by a layer of membrane called the amnion.
Towards the end of your pregnancy, the placenta passes antibodies through the umbilical cord from you to your baby. These give your baby immunity from infections for about three months after birth. However, it only passes on antibodies that you already have.
What happens after the baby is born?
Soon after the birth, the midwife will:
- clamp the umbilical cord about 3-4cm (1½-2 inches) from your baby's belly button with a plastic clip
- place another clamp at the other end of the cord, near the placenta
The cord will then be cut between the two clamps, leaving a stump about 2-3cm (1-1½ inches) long on your baby's tummy. This will form your baby's belly button when it's healed. Your midwife will usually cut the cord or, sometimes, you or your birth partner can do it.
There are no nerves in the cord, so cutting it isn't painful for you or the baby. You can ask to have your baby lifted straight onto you before the cord is cut.
Between five and 15 days after your baby is born, the umbilical stump will dry out, turn black and drop off. After the stump comes off, it usually takes about seven to 10 days for the belly button to heal completely.
Until the stump drops off and the belly button is completely healed, it's important to keep the area clean and dry, to prevent infection.
If you notice any bleeding or discharge from your baby's belly button, ask your midwife, health visitor or GP for advice.
Watch a video on taking care of your baby's umbilical stump.
Read the answers to more questions about pregnancy.
Further information:
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