What is a nuchal cord?

• A. Cord wrapped around the placenta
• B. Cord wrapped around the baby's wrist
• C. Cord wrapped around neck
• D. Umbilical herniation

Answer: (C)

A nuchal cord is when the umbilical cord forms a loop around the baby's neck. This is a common finding during labor and, in most deliveries, does not cause harm because the loop can usually be loosened or slipped over the head as the baby is born. It is not the cord around the placenta, not around the baby's wrist, and not an umbilical herniation. If the loop is tight, clinicians may try to loosen it during delivery or, after birth, clamp and cut the cord as needed. Recognizing this helps you understand what clinicians are checking for as labor progresses and how it might affect delivery.