“It’s time to cut the cord!”
We say this when a parent and child are joined at the hip, and we think that a child should be able to support themselves. We mean that it’s time for the little one (or not so little in some cases) to stand on their own two feet.
But when it comes to the umbilical cord that literally connects a baby to its mother in utero, there’s been a shift in thinking.
Delayed cord clamping has a lot of benefits for your baby, and we don’t actually want to “cut the cord” too soon.
What exactly is delayed cord clamping?
When your baby is born, it’s the umbilical cord that continues to attach the baby to you. It runs from your placenta to your baby’s belly button and has been transferring nutrient and oxygen-rich blood from you to your baby throughout pregnancy. The umbilical cord is what makes “eating for two” a thing.
This transfer of nutrients isn’t instantly done when your baby is born. In fact, if you look at an umbilical cord immediately after the baby arrives, you’ll see that it still has blood flowing through the vein. Even as your baby makes their first cries, they’re still receiving oxygenated blood directly from your body.
Delayed cord clamping allows this process to finish. With delayed cord clamping, instead of separating the cord immediately, your doctor or midwife allows the blood to pulse for a while- usually around a minute first. Often, they’ll offer the baby’s parents the option of cutting the cord.
This process has so many benefits that delayed cord clamping has become standard at the hospitals where we doula in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Studies have shown that it increases iron levels for the first few months of life, which can help baby’s development. It is especially helpful for preterm infants in improving their circulation and blood volume.
While it may increase the risk of jaundice slightly, most providers believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, since we have effective methods of monitoring and treating infant jaundice.
Delayed cord clamping is a topic that comes up as many of our clients consider their birth plans (and it’s a part of our checklist for our labor doula clients). We’re happy to tell them that it’s a standard practice, unless there’s an emergency at birth that requires quick action.
Delayed cord clamping also doesn’t prevent you from other choices you may be making for your family, including saving cord blood, or placenta encapsulation. And, if you’re thinking about a lotus birth, it may be worth considering if delayed cord clamping will cover everything you’re looking for.
Have more questions about standard procedures in local hospitals in the DMV? The doulas of DC Metro Maternity are happy to help!
