SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND

[EstrellaRuiz]

I was just reading this study on cord cutting and thought I should share, it's kind of long but everyone should read.

Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #1: Your Baby Will
Have 32% More Blood Volume
Thats right, 32% of the baby’s volume of blood
will be where it belongs – in your baby and not
discarded. This study clearly states:
“Neonatal blood volume, calculated from the fetal
placental blood volume, was 32% higher in the
Leboyer group compared with the early cord-
clamped infants.”
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #2: Your Baby Will
Have More Iron, Which May Prevent Deficiencies
If your baby has more blood, then of course he or
she will get all the benefits of what is in that
blood – including stem cells and iron. In fact, by
delaying cord clamping by just two minutes can
increase a baby’s iron reserve by 27-47mg,
equivalent to 1-2 months of an infant’s iron
requirements. This could then in turn help to
prevent iron deficiencies developing before 6
months of age. Have you noticed many baby
foods, cereals and formulas promote reinforced
iron to prevent deficiencies? Not cutting the cord
can help with that too.
This study found:
“Infants subjected to delayed cord clamping had
45% higher mean ferritin concentration (117 μg/L
v 81 μg/L) and a lower prevalence of iron
deficiency (1 (0.6%) v 10 (5.7%).”
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #3: Lower Risk Of
Anaemia
When a baby receives their full volume of blood,
there is a lowered risk of anaemia, especially if
the pregnant mother was anaemic. This
systematic review of studies found:
“Two of the four studies from developing
countries found a significant difference in infant
haemoglobin levels at 2-3 months of age in
favour of delayed cord-clamping. This difference
was more marked when mothers were anaemic.”
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #4: Higher Birth
Weight
Women get nervous when you talk about bigger
babies, but the fact that babies who have their
full volume of blood have a higher birth weight
must mean this is an important and healthy
thing, especially if you’re expecting a small for
dates baby.
From the Cochrane Database’s cord clamping
review:
“Mean birthweight was significantly higher in the
late, compared with early, cord clamping (101 g
increase)”
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #5: A Reduced Risk
Of Intraventricular Haemorrhage And Late-Onset
Sepsis
Here’s two reasons in one! Intraventricular
haemorrhage is bleeding into the fluid-filled areas
of the brain (the ventricles), and is more common
in premature babies. Late-onset sepsis usually
develops at around 3-7 days post birth and is
bacterial infection ( contracted from the
caregiver’s environment ) in the baby’s blood.
In this study here, it was found that:
“..significant differences were found between the
ICC [immediate cord clamping] and DCC [delayed
cord clamping] groups in the rates of IVH
[Intraventricular Hemorrhage] and LOS [Late-
Onset Sepsis].
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #6: Fewer
Transfusions
As a result of delayed cord clamping, babies have
fewer transfusions than when immediately
clamped.
“Seven studies were eligible for inclusion. The
maximum delay in cord clamping was 120
seconds. Delayed cord clamping was associated
with fewer transfusions for anaemia or low blood
pressure and less intraventricular haemorrhage
than early clamping.”
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #7: The Cord Is A
Source Of Oxygen
While the umbilical cord is attached to the baby,
he or she still receives oxygen, which helps to
explain how water-birthed babies can breathe
while under water. Its not until they hit the air
that the breathing reflex is stimulated.
Having a valuable source of oxygen is so
important, especially for babies who need help
breathing. It would be fabulous for someone to
design resuscitation equipment for hospitals
which allow for the baby to have the cord in tact
and close to his mother, both of which can be
extremely beneficial for babies with difficulties.
Reason NOT To Cut The Cord #8: Because Skin
To Skin Is Far More Important
While its not as common in Australian, many
hospitals overseas take baby away after birth to
check them over, meaning the cord needs to be
clamped immediately. Right after birth is a very
important, magical moment that the mother and
baby will never get back – the attachment – and
it should be as immediate and undisturbed as
possible. There is no reason to separate the
mother and her baby and there is no reason to
cut that cord. The mother and baby should be
enjoying beautiful skin to skin contact without
any interference. Leave the cord alone and let
mother and baby be, unless there is a medical
emergency.
So When Should The Cord Be Cut?
Some of the studies quoted have based their
findings on two minutes before clamping the cord,
but most parents like to wait until the cord has
stopped pulsating, meaning the placenta has done
its job and is no longer sending blood to the
baby. The very least amount of time you would
want to wait is two minutes.

[doulamommy]

Good to see this on here! I love the benefits of delayed clamping and I've done it with birth of my kids. My midwife routinely does it unless you request otherwise or there's an emergency.

[EstrellaRuiz]

Glad to help :)

[cecilia_morgan]

I put it in my birth plan and talked to my doctor about it but she said about 3 years ago they just started routinely doing it weather you ask or not so that made me really happy! :-)

[rachaelbutsch]

I'm so glad I read this totally making it apart of my birth plan

[EstrellaRuiz]

Yes tell them you want to wait the 2 minutes or until it's done pulsating, whichever you prefer. Tell them it's part of your birth plan. I'm going to look more into it but sounds like something to consider!!

[babygirlAliceRose]

So all I have to do is tell them to delay cutting the cord right? Because I am due in 9 days and I want my baby to be really healthy and this looks like it will help my little girl :)

[EstrellaRuiz]

That's exciting to hear! I'm adding this to my birth plan, I honestly didn't know about this until today I wish I would have known in my first pregnancy!

[katyrb]

I did delayed cord clamping with my son and I'm so glad I did! He was so alert and active after he was born.  Even the nurses.mentioned that they could tell the difference between him and the babies who were clamped right away.