Did you know humans have not always engaged in umbilical cord clamping after delivery? It’s a relatively new concept. But then again, so is delayed cord clamping.
Erasmus Darwin, grandfather to the more commonly known Charles Darwin, said,
“[…] injurious to the child is the tying and cutting of the naval string too soon which should always be left till the child has not only repeatedly breathed but till all pulsation in the cord ceases. As otherwise the child is much weaker than it ought to be, a portion of the blood being left in the placenta, which ought to have been in the child.”
The umbilical cord can continue to circulate oxygen rich blood for 10 minutes or more after birth; pumping stem cells, blood and vital nutrients into your baby in the first few moments of life! Standard, delayed cord clamping in Southeast PA is commonly accepted to be about 1 minute after the birth of the baby. However, many families are now asking for truly delayed cord clamping because it can increase your baby’s blood volume by up to a third!
A study from 2016 found there is evidence to support leaving babies attached and unclamped in emergency situations due to the benefits of oxygenated blood being circulated. This would involve extending delayed cord clamping until the baby is stable; something Certified Professional Midwives have been doing since their inception.
The World Health Organization even recommends delayed cord clamping because it decreases the risk of PP hemorrhage.
How do you know when delayed cord clamping has been delayed enough?
One visual key that all new parents can follow is to wait until the cord appears white. Immediately after the baby is born, the cord is still filled with blood and appear a purplish-blue. As the blood makes its way through the cord and into your baby, the cord will empty and appear a whitish-yellow or grey color. This is a nice visual indicator that the blood has pumped out of the placenta and into your baby!
You can change the narrative when it comes to how we birth and the processes that follow. If this idea resonates with you, start the conversation with your health care provider now. Share the resources included in this article. When your baby is born, remind your provider that you wish to give your baby a few moments until you cut the cord. You can also have your partner take the lead to make sure that your wishes don’t get overlooked! Allowing the natural process to take place in this not so natural world we live in can be hard to do, but this is why open dialogue with your care providers is important.
Good luck and happy birthing. We are here for you.
By: Kristi Reed
