Placenta? 

The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen (O2), and nutrients and removes waste products along with carbon dioxide (Co2) from the blood of the growing fetus through the umbilical cord. The placenta attaches to the wall of the mother's uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord arises from it.

Umbilical cord?

The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the mother's placenta. During fetal development in the womb, the umbilical cord is the lifeline to the fetal supplying nutrients. After birth, the cord is clamped and cut. Eventually, between 1 to 3 weeks, the cord will become dry and naturally fall off from the baby's belly button.

The connection between them?

After the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord is still attached from the baby’s belly button to the placenta, and nutrient-rich blood remains within the umbilical cord and the placenta.

however, the cord is no longer needed. Shortly after birth, it will be clamped and cut off. There are no nerve endings in your baby's cord, so it doesn't hurt when it is cut.

Shunt?

Wasted perfusion(blood); which are small passages that direct blood that needs to be oxygenated in some part of the body (heart) where gas exchange doesn't occur.

Where are the shunts in a fetus?

The fetal circulatory system uses three cardiac (heart)shunts. namely FORAMEN OVALE, DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS, and DUCTUS VENOSUS.

Purpose of shunt?

The purpose of these shunts is to bypass certain body parts-in particular, the lungs and liver-that are not fully developed while the fetus is still in the womb.

note: This makes the fetal heart - right dominant while adults have a left dominant heart.

Relationship between baby's first cry and lung?

the fluid-filled fetal lung is a high-pressure system and blood vessels are constricted state.

after birth, since the umbilical cord is cut; the baby needs to breathe for its survival. 

the first cry through the mouth creates a negative pressure and sucks the o2 inside the lungs. This oxygen acts as a natural vasodilator (dilates the blood vessels, and makes it easy for the gas to pass through) in the lungs and flushes out the fluid through lymphatic drainage, etc. hence, the baby starts to receive its oxygen through breathing from the nose.

What happens to the shunts at birth?

An increase in the baby's blood pressure and a significant reduction in the pulmonary pressure reduces the need for the ductus arteriosus to shunt blood. These changes promote the closure of the shunt. These changes increase the pressure in the left atrium of the heart, which decreases the pressure in the right atrium, and eventually, these shunts close. and as time passes the baby’s heart becomes a left dominant one.

Let's Learn together...