Why when a baby is born the umbrical cord is usually cut off?

Question

aaronq · Answer

because it's not needed.. i'm pretty sure it would dry up (like a scab) and fall off anyway lol

anonymous · Answer

Also you don't need to rely on a tube for food anymore.:p

nincompoop · Answer

the umbilical cord is cut off because the baby already is able to get nutrients and perform gas exchange by that stage of birth. there are three things different things in the circulatory system involved in the pre-natal and post-natal. in the pre-natal, there exist the http://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/1618/flashcards/710691/png/fetal-circulation.png foramen ovale that connects the right atrium to the left atrium; the ductus arteriosus that connects the pulmonary branch directly to the aortic arch thus bypassing the pulmonary circuit (the blood is already oxygenated by the mother) http://www.medivisuals.com/images/products/detail/204286_01X.jpg; and from the umbilical cord, there's the ductus venosus that connects the umbilical vein directly to the inferior vienna cava, bypassing the liver (since it is already filtered of foreign and harmful agent by the mother) directing the blood into the right atrium.

nincompoop · Answer

then by the stage of the post-natal these three things close and become non-chambered. allowing the baby to do function its own circulatory and gas exchange.