Do you know why the umbilical cord is so vital for the unborn child?s survival? The umbilical cord is the baby?s lifeline. The baby is connected to the placenta through this umbilical cord. It is through the placenta that the baby gets its nourishment. Everything the child needs to survive will pass through this cord, be it air, blood or nourishment. It is joined to the unborn child?s navel and will be cut away from the baby once the baby is born. This is painless because it has no nerves connected to it.