In those first crucial minutes immediately after the birth of your baby (during the “Third Stage of Labour”), something important is happening – or rather is suppose to happen. When your baby is born, if all is well, they should be placed immediately on your body for skin to skin care. During this time the placenta is still inside of you and will remain so typically anywhere between 5-30 minutes (sometimes up to 60 minutes). Did you know?Between 30 – 50% of your infant’s blood volume is still in the placenta and the umbilical cord continues to pulsate, pushing the blood from the placenta into your baby? Though there are records dating back thousands of years debating when or how the baby’s umbilical cord should or shouldn’t be clamped and severed, it is generally agreed that around 1913 in Western medicine it became standard practice for all Obstetricians and even many Midwives to clamp and cut the umbilical cord immediately within a few seconds after birth and this practice spread across the world. The practice of Immediate Cord Clamping “ICC” was based on several beliefs/theories:
Unfortunately, these theories (and many more) were not supported by research and evidence! Today the research shows us that there are huge benefits for Delayed Cord Clamping (DCC) which many argue should be called “Optimal Cord Clamping” (OCC). Delayed Cord Clamping / Optimal Cord Clamping means waiting for the cord to stop pulsating before clamping and cutting.The research also shows that there are no risks to mother and baby if cord clamping is delayed and in fact, babies are put at risk if the umbilical cord is clamped too early. So, what has changed?Well, we now know how the umbilical cord works! Inside the cord is a substance called Wharton’s jelly that protects the blood vessels within the cord. Once your baby is born the Wharton’s jelly starts to cool down to room temperature the cord pulsations begin to slow down. The jelly then hardens and clamps the cord itself. Umbilical cords clamp themselves! |
How long should I wait to clamp the cord?Generally, the cord takes 2-3 minutes to finish its strong pulsations. You will hear different advice but parents can choose for themselves. We know that even letting the cord pulsate just 30 seconds has benefits and lower risks of short and long-term health complications to babies. |
What if I am planning to do Cord Blood Banking?
Will my health care provider support my choice to do Delay Cord Clamping?
https://www.pregnancyinfo.ca/birth/delivery/delayed-cord-clamping/
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists -
https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Delayed-Umbilical-Cord-Clamping-After-Birth
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/elena/titles/full_recommendations/cord_clamping/en/
So go ahead and put it in your birth plan/preference list and talk to your health care provider about it!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/delaying-umbilical-cord-clamping-better-for-baby-mcmaster-expert-1.1302906
Dr. Alan Greene “90 Seconds to Change the World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw53X98EvLQ
History of Cord clamping/cutting: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423128/
Common Objections to Delayed Cord Clamping - What's The Evidence Say?:
https://www.scienceandsensibility.org/p/bl/et/blogid=2&blogaid=526
Penny Simkin on Delayed Cord Clamping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RywNup2CM
When Exactly Should the Cord be Cut after Birth
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/when-exactly-should-the-cord-be-cut-during-birth/article11509283/
Delay Cutting the Cord: Study
https://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2007/03/21/delay_cutting_the_cord_study.html
Sarah Baker is a co-owner of Lifetime of Love Doula Services and has been supporting families for 6 years as a birth doula, postpartum & infant care doula and childbirth educator. She is mom to three boys, twins and a singleton. |
Leave a Reply.
Categories
All
2017
2018
2019
Affirmations
Animals
Anxiety
Association Of Ontario Midwives
Babyproofing
Baby's Second Night
Babywearing
Back Pain
Bad Moms
Batch Cooking
Bath Recipe
Bell Let's Talk Day
Big Bird
Birth Companion
Birth Control
Birth Photography
Birth Plan
Birth Preferences
Bottle Feeding
Brampton Prenatal Classes
Breastfeeding
Caesarean Awareness Month
Caesarean Birth
Certified Doula
Childbirth Education Class
Childbirth International
Chiropratic Care
Choices In Childbirth
Classes
Constipation
Cord Blood Banking
Dad
Delayed Cord Clamping
Disabilities
Doula
Doula Business
Doula Interview
Doula Vs. Midwife
Dry Skin
Eating On A Budget
Exercise
Fatherhood
Fathers
Fear
Fertility Awareness
Fresh 48 Photography
Get LOUD
GIft Ideas
Girl Boss
Guest Bloggers
Headwaters Health Care Centre
Healthcare
Healthy Eating
Holistic Living
Home Birth
Hormonal Contraception
Hospital Bag
Hospital Birth
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
HypnoBirth
HypnoBirthing
Infant Feeding
Infertility
Informed Choice
Intrauterine Insemination
Introducing Solids
IVF
Junior Foxes
Kangaroo Care
Kegels
Lactation Cookies
Life Lessons
Life With Baby
Life With Pets
Meal Preparation
Memes
Men's Mental Health
Mental Health
Midwifery Care
Midwifery Care Of Peel & Halton Hills
Midwives Of Headwater Hills
Ministry Of Health
Mississauga Prenatal
Mom & Baby Yoga
Mom Life
Mommy Wars
Mompreneur
Moms Of Headwater Hills
Motherhood
Motherhood In The City
Music
Music Together Of Orangeville
Natural Childbirth
Natural Family Planning Methods
Newborn Care
Newborn Photography
Nurses
Orangeville Prenatal
Osteopathy
Parenthood
Parenting Tips
Partner
Pelvic Floor Health
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Photography
Poetry
Poop
Postpartum
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Doula
Postpartum Fitness
Postpartum Mood Disorder
Postpartum Plan
Potty Training
Preemies
Pregnancy
Prenatal
Prenatal Yoga
Preterm Labour
ProDoula
Professional Development
Rainbow Baby
Recipes
Ring Slings
Romance
Salsa Babies
Self Care
Sesame Street
Sex
Single Parents
Sonograms
Spouse
Teaching
Testimonial
The Pretty Imperfect Mama
Toronto Moms
Ultrasounds
Video Q&A
Videos
Visitors
Wellness
Wine
Women's Health
Working Mom
World Prematurity Day
Archives
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
September 2015
August 2015
April 2015
March 2015