Delayed Cord Clamping

Why ask for delayed cord clamping?

Delaying clamping the cord until several minutes AFTER baby has taken his or her first breath is what scientific evidence shows us is best for baby, or ideally leaving the cord intact until it has stopped pulsing, which could take 5-15 minutes.

Doctors used to believe that if they did not cut and clamp the cord immediately, then baby would lose their blood as it would get pumped into the placenta and stay there. We understand now that this is completely false.

When a baby is born, the placenta is still providing a constant flow of oxygen and nutrition to the baby via the blood flowing through umbilical cord. Once baby takes their first breath, an immediate reaction takes place in the baby, causing the circulatory system to switch to the lungs and heart; this signals the placenta to begin pumping the blood into the baby and stop receiving it.

For the small percentage of babies who have some trouble taking their first breath, keeping them attached to the cord and placenta will be their lifeline, allowing them to stay oxygenation while they figure out breathing, giving them time and making the situation less intense.

Once the baby is breathing, the placenta will need a few minutes to pump the remaining blood into the baby. It may hold up to 1/3 of the baby’s blood volume. If the cord is cut immediately, the baby will be deprived of up to 1/3 of its blood, causing weakness, exhaustion and worse, also depriving baby of the plethora of their stem cells present in the cord blood. 

If you wait until the cord has stopped pulsing, you can give your baby their optimal start in life, allowing them o ease themselves stress free into this world, and have a positive first experience in their life outside the womb.

Look up the research about delayed cord clamping today, and discuss it with your doctor on your next visit. 

Have you heard of delayed cord clamping before today?