Another thing very injurious to the child, is the tying and cutting
of the navel string too soon which should always be left not only until
the child has repeatedly breathed, but till all pulsations in the cord
cease. As otherwise the child is much weaker than it ought to be, a
portion of the blood being left in the placenta, which ought to have been
in the child. -Erasmus Darwin
What is Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping is prolonging the time between the delivery of a newborn and the clamping of the umbilical cord. So when exactly does the umbilical cord get cut/clamped? This is the practice of waiting to cut/clamp the umbilical cord until after pulsations have ceased, or until after the placenta is delivered.
Research has shown that when we delay cord clamping the baby will receive up to 30% more blood volume than it would have with immediate cord clamping. When your baby is born, the cord and placenta system will contain about one third of your baby’s blood, while the remains two thirds is in the baby.
Risks of early cord clamping.
There are various studies that have shown early cord clamping disrupts normally physiology, anatomy and the birth process – it severs the baby from the still functioning placenta and stops the circulation of blood.
Large studies have shown lower iron stores in the baby for up to 6 months after birth as a result of immediate cord clamping. During the first few months of life an iron deficiency is associated with neurodevelopment delay, which may be irreversible.
Early cord clamping not only impacts the newborn but the mother as well. There is some evidence that the risk of post-partum hemorrhage and retained placenta by filling the placenta with the baby’s blood. This will make it harder for the uterus to contract and expel the placenta.
If you are a pregnant mama the podcast station below is a must! There is an episode devoted to Delayed Cord Clamping as well.
Birthful The Podcast
EP29: Dr. Mark Sloan, Delayed Cord Clamping
