Wharton’s Jelly
Tangles and loops are quite common in the umbilical cord. But, as per the data, there are only 1% of cords that have actual knots in them which prevents the blood flow. In most cases, umbilical cords contain a mucous substance in them called Wharton’s Jelly, which protects the blood vessels from being compressed.
A Natural Clamp
During the birth, the outside temperature is way cooler as compared to the mommy’s womb. When the cord is exposed to the cooler air, the Wharton’s Jelly compresses, it turns hard, which results in squeezing and shuttering of the blood vessel. Due to this, the cord naturally clamps off, well before a doctor can cut it. But, this didn’t make it useless.
The Research is on!
Clinically, umbilical cords possess those cells that are capable to regenerate and create different types of cells. These cells are efficient enough so that they can make bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat. Further researches are going on to see how it can be used to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.