Many people wonder how and when the baby should be separated from the placenta, especially those in the “free birth” community who may be birthing without professional attendants. Here are some things to consider about the baby’s umbilical cord: When to cut the cord: My opinion is that the best thing to do is to wait to cut the cord until… Read more →
There is something so gentle about leaving the umbilical cord intake until the baby is born. It not only ensures that babies get absolutely all the blood benefits from delayed cord clamping, but also allows for a symbolically slow transition to the outside world. I always tell my doula students and clients that the birth isn’t over until the placenta is… Read more →
I don’t blog too much about cesareans, as most of my focus is on educating women on how to maximize their chances of having a healthy vaginal birth and there is only so much time in the day!
However, one of my favourite topics is the importance of delayed cord clamping. Normally when I speak about this topic, I speak about it in the context of normal vaginal birth. Most of my clients choose to leave the umbilical cord intact until after the placenta has been born and it is clear that the baby has received all the blood, oxygen and nutrients possible from the life-giving placenta, and after the family has had some time to bond with the baby and had some time to come down from that post-birth rush. However, recently, I captured this rare footage of delayed cord clamping during a cesarean and couldn’t resist sharing it!
Though the cesarean rate in our country is way too high (close to 30%) and many of them are thought to be unnecessary, in some rare circumstances they are a good option to have access too. For babies who ARE being born by cesarean, it is definitely still possible to delay cord clamping in the OR!
The following video is only 47 seconds long, however, this baby actually had the cord left intact for about 90 seconds. Encourage your hospitals keep to keep getting more and more patient with this process to maximize the health of babies born both vaginally and by cesarean!
Check out the cool video above of delayed cord clamping during a cesarean to see it in action!
Side Note: you can learn more about the importance of delayed cord clamping during our upcoming Wise Woman Way of Birth doula training course. Our next series is starting ONLINE Wednesday March 17th to Wednesday June 2nd, 2021 7-9pm (pst). View details and sign up here.
It’s common practice in our culture to have the partner cut the umbilical cord, playing a symbolic role in the birth by facilitating the final step in separating the baby from the placenta and welcoming him or her into the world as a new life, a new person. The cutting-of-the-cord ritual is often completed so rapidly that it’s hard to… Read more →