When to Cut the Cord

Nope.  Not a euphemism.  I really am going to talk about when to cut the umbilical cord following a birth.  

I have become convinced that one of the greatest things parents can do to help their son or daughter thrive outside the womb is to make certain that their care provider does NOT clamp the umbilical cord immediately after birth.  Clamping the cord almost immediately upon the birth of a baby is an intervention that has no basis in science though it is one of the norms in the medical model of birth.  Sadly, I believe it deprives the newly born child of its dignity and optimum health.

It certainly isn't difficult to understand when you know basic biology.  The unborn child does not breathe oxygen.  You know that, I'm sure.  The umbilical cord pumps oxygenated blood to the baby from the placenta and that blood contains the baby's nutrients and "air."  At the moment the baby takes its first breath after birth, the process BEGINS of the baby's lungs breathing air for the first time.  Those are some crazy and important moments for that baby.  In the meantime as their body is figuring out how to breathe, the umbilical cord is STILL pumping vital oxygen and nutrients to the baby.  One of the worst things to do for that baby at that moment, especially one in distress, is to immediately clamp that cord that is providing them vital oxygen.  But that is what is routinely done.   

In fact, the placenta and umbilical cord contain up to ONE THIRD of the baby's blood supply at the moment of birth.  This means if the cord is clamped immediately before that blood flows into the baby, that baby is deprived of their own blood.  Babies whose cords are allowed to pump have much lower anemia risks and higher hemoglobin levels for THREE months.  They have higher iron levels for SIX months.  This is important stuff.  This is the SAME blood that is chock full of those ultra important umbilical stem cells that offer so much potential for cures and healing.  It's the same blood that you can pay someone thousands of dollars to freeze and store in the event that your child needs it some day.  But many have theorized that the diseases that the blood is being saved to cure could be PREVENTED by the infusion of these cells after birth, the way nature intended, rather than being thrown in the garbage or frozen for later use.  If you've ever seen an animal give birth, you'll understand what we're talking about here.  After birth, the mother FIRST begins licking and rubbing her baby to stimulate him and warm him.  It is only after a bit of time that she chews through the cord and delivers the placenta.  There is no rush and the rest period immediately following a birth is critical.  People who breed horses will tell you that it is imperative that the foal is allowed to receive all the cord blood and that it can affect the health of the foal if he does not.  

We have not even begun to understand the importance and power of the umbilical stem cells but I think it is vitally important that we not mess around with depriving babies of these amazing cells.  That is exactly what happens when the cord is clamped right away.  All of that rich blood is either thrown away along with the placenta or it is sold for research and the placenta sold to cosmetic and shampoo companies without the parent's consent or knowledge.  (I do admit I find it rather funny that people are disgusted with the idea of seeing or consuming a placenta but yet have no idea that the shampoo and makeup they are slathering on their bodies was made with someone else's placenta.  But that's not weird.)

So, what to do if you are pregnant and you want to make sure your baby receives all of their own blood?  Talk to your doctor or midwife.  Make sure they KNOW that you do not want the cord clamped until it has stopped pulsating and is limp.  Do not ask if you should or can.  Be nice but firm that this is what you expect.  Put it in your birth plan if you have one.  This is your baby and you have the right to ensure that they receive all their own blood.  If your provider dismisses it, then perhaps you should find a new one.  Make sure your partner or doula knows to remind them right before the baby is born of your wishes so that in the "routine" of things, your baby's cord is not clamped prematurely.  I've  had to be pushy with doctors in the delivery room who wanted to blatantly ignore the parents' request.  Once the cord is done pulsing blood through it, it can then be clamped and cut as normal.  This can most definitely be done with a cesarean section without problem.  

One of the happy side effects of waiting to clamp the cord is that it slows down the rush rush rush that seems to pervade a hospital birth.  Everyone (including baby!) gets a chance to breathe and relax.  The baby can be placed right on mom and nurse right away (if he or she desires).  This has the added benefit of helping expel the placenta and facilitating the mom-baby oxytocin bond.  These moments are so very precious!  (And yes, those, too, can be had with a cesarean.)  There is NO need under normal circumstances to whisk the baby off to be weighed and doused with eye ointment.  Let that poor mother who has been longing to meet her baby have her moment.  Let HER be the first one to hold her baby.  When you wait to clamp the cord, the nurses and staff have no choice but to wait a few minutes and let baby and mom have those long deserved immediate post birth moments.  And everyone learns to just breathe a little more.  All those other things can be done after.  Your baby deserves to have all of his or her own blood and it WILL make a difference.

The difference: 

Source

See that cord just a few moments after birth?  Still full of the baby's blood.

Luke's cord after waiting.  Huge difference.

More Resources:

http://scienceofmom.com/2012/10/11/why-consider-delayed-cord-clamping/

http://academicobgyn.com/2009/12/03/delayed-cord-clamping-should-be-standard-practice-in-obstetrics/

http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-12-01/the-most-harmful-medical-intervention-is-done-to-all-of-us/

And there's tons more out there.  Here's hoping every baby gets the chance to receive all their blood and receive the best start possible.

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