Let it Pulse
- Jul 13, 2013
- 2 min read
When to cut the umbilical cord has been a long debated topic among childbirth professionals. Most doctors have leaned to the conservative side, believing that by cutting the cord early (within one minute of birth) the risk of hemorrhage in the mother is decreased. New research conducted in Australia has shown that the risk of hemorrhage does not increase when delayed cord clamping (more than one minute after birth) is practiced. In addition, this recent research solidifies the knowledge of the added benefits to baby when delayed cord clamping is used. Babies whose cords are cut after one minute following birth have been shown to have significantly higher hemoglobin levels and larger iron stores within the first six months of their life, as compared to babies whose cords were cut early. In addition, the babies whose cords were cut later had higher birth weights.
In addition to delayed cord clamping,
another way to increase the blood volume of the baby is to hold the baby at or below the level of the placenta when cutting the cord, so as to allow gravity to increase the amount of blood that is passed from placenta to infant. The cord should be cut during a contraction, when the blood is being pumped from the placenta to the baby’s body, rather than between contractions when the baby’s heart pumps blood back to the
placenta.
The one potential negative of delaying clamping as seen in this study is a slightly increased risk of jaundice, and thus it is recommended that phytotherapy sources be available in the case of low bilirubin levels in the infant. There are circumstances when early cord clamping may be necessary for the safety of both the mother and infant, such as when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the infant’s neck or when the infant is in distress and needs to be treated immediately following birth.
McDonald SJ, Middleton P, Dowswell T, Morris PS. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD004074. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004074.pub3.
Action Items:
During pregnancy, discuss cord clamping and cutting with your caregiver.
Make sure to indicate your preferences regarding cord clamping and cutting on your birth plan.
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