Final answer:
In the presence of a loose nuchal cord, healthcare providers can typically resolve the situation by unlooping the cord from the infant's neck. The umbilical cord is cut shortly after birth, leaving a stub that dries and falls off, forming the navel.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nuchal cord is present and loose around an infant's neck at birth, it typically does not pose a serious risk. A nuchal cord refers to the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck of the fetus. In most cases, a loose nuchal cord can be easily unwrapped by the healthcare provider during delivery.
The umbilical cord, which contains the umbilical artery and vein, is essential for supplying the fetus with nutrients and oxygen from the placenta during pregnancy. After birth, the umbilical cord is cut within seconds, leaving a stub approximately
long. This stub will then dry out, shrivel, and darken before spontaneously falling off within about three weeks post-birth, which eventually forms the navel once it is fully healed.