A baby in the mother’s womb receives blood, oxygen, and nutrition through the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is the connection between the fetal body and the placenta which is attached to the uterus. It is also how the baby’s wastes are discarded. After birth, the baby is out in the world, and the body learns to function independently. There is no more need for the umbilical cord to sustain the baby’s life. So, the doctor clamps the cord and cuts it soon after birth. In some cultures, cutting the cord is a special procedure that the father or someone important to the mother does.
Did you know that only some people follow this? Some prefer to delay the baby cord clamping and cutting. Read on to learn all about delayed cord clamping.
Delayed cord clamping is nothing but delaying the clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord immediately after birth. The blood and nutrients keep flowing from the placenta to the foetus while inside the mother and will continue to do so for a few minutes after delivery.
In delayed cord clamping, the doctors wait 60 seconds before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord connecting the baby to the placenta. Due to this delay, the baby gets more oxygenated warm blood from the placenta even after the delivery. It helps transfer about 80 ml of blood from the placenta to the baby.
Until recently, doctors would clamp the umbilical cord close to the baby’s naval and cut it immediately after birth. This will stop the blood transfer from the placenta to the baby. Since the blood flows from the mother to the baby through the placenta, it was always thought cutting the cord as early as possible prevented unnecessary blood loss in the mother.
Recent research and studies showed that giving time for the blood in the placenta, which is already en route to the baby, will help the baby rather than cause any harm. So, the doctor will wait between 30 seconds to even 1 minute, in some cases, to cut the cord after the delivery.
Today, with more research and awareness about the benefits of delayed cord clamping, many hospitals follow this as a standard birthing procedure.Delayed cord clamping has many advantages, such as:
Sometimes, even the best practices may be unsafe during pregnancy and delivery. Complications arise when you least expect them. Some possible disadvantages of delayed cord clamping are:
However, there is not much evidence about the risks ordis advantages of delayed cord clamping. These are just possible risks associated with delayed cord clamping. Sometimes, the doctors wait just a few seconds, and it hardly makes any difference to the earlier method of cutting the cord.
Each hospital or doctor has its way of delaying cord clamping. They can delay the clamping and cutting by 30 seconds to even 2 full minutes.(60 seconds mainly) The intention is to increase the benefits to the baby without endangering the mother in any way.
Yes, it is the procedure followed by most hospitals today. Remember, delayed cord blood clamping is not always the best method to deliver a baby. Depending on various factors, doctors decide what to do or not to do during the baby’s delivery.
Delayed cord clamping is not advisable in the following situations
Delayed cord clamping has more advantages than disadvantages. When done correctly by an experienced doctor, it can be safe and beneficial for the baby. The baby or the mother will not be harmed if cord clamping is not delayed because of any issue.
It is not compulsory but is followed in most hospitals due to its advantages. While some doctors wait for just 30 seconds, others wait up to 5 minutes.(Recommended is 60 seconds)
