During delivery, what condition occurs when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the newborn's neck?

• A. The umbilical cord remains untouched during delivery.
• B. The umbilical cord detaches from the placenta prematurely.
• C. The umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the newborn's neck during delivery.
• D. The umbilical cord becomes inflamed postpartum.

Answer: (C)

When the umbilical cord winds around the baby’s neck during birth, it’s called a nuchal cord. This phrase exactly matches the scenario described in the prompt, where the cord becomes wrapped around the newborn’s neck as delivery occurs. It’s a relatively common occurrence and is often not harmful if managed promptly and carefully. The goal is to keep the cord from being compressed while the baby is delivered, sometimes by gently loosening or slipping the cord over the head if feasible. The other statements describe different situations—one suggests the cord stays untouched, another refers to the cord detaching from the placenta too soon, and another to inflammation after birth—none of which capture the wrap-around-the-neck event.