Delayed Cordclamping
By Nicole Stoel
A term you may hear more and more often, and not at all strange! It has its advantages. Let’s talk about that.
What is Delayed Cord Clamping?
If you choose to let the umbilical cord pulsate, the midwife (or your partner) will wait to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after birth. This represents a special moment when “your little one ‘comes apart’ from you after 9 months.” During pregnancy, the placenta develops as a new organ connected via the umbilical cord, providing nutrients and oxygen. After birth, the question becomes whether to cut immediately or wait longer.
The Role of the Placenta and Umbilical Cord During Pregnancy
The placenta grows throughout pregnancy in the uterine wall. By week 12, it functions fully with several key roles:
- Separates mother and child blood circulation
- Produces various hormones
- Provides nutrients and oxygen to the baby
- Filters harmful substances
The separation occurs through a membrane allowing nutrient passage while filtering waste products.
Why Wait to Cut the Umbilical Cord?
Approximately 30% of the baby’s blood remains in the placenta after birth. Waiting allows this blood to transfer gradually, providing:
- Extra iron (reducing anemia risk by supporting oxygen transport)
- Extra stem cells (basic building cells that renew and develop into needed cell types)
- Higher oxygen levels (assisting the newborn’s transition to independent breathing)
Disadvantages of Delayed Cord Clamping
The primary disadvantage involves inability to donate umbilical cord blood after the cord has pulsated, as all benefits transfer to the child.
Increased jaundice risk was previously documented due to bilirubin waste product transfer. However, skin-to-skin contact and latching the baby in the first hour after birth would also help and compensate for this, making this concern potentially outdated.
Recommendations
Delayed cord clamping remains possible during cesarean sections. In emergencies, “cord milking” can push remaining blood manually to the baby via the umbilical cord to expedite the process. Parents should discuss preferences with their midwife or gynecologist and include wishes in a birth plan.