Delayed Cordclamping

Delayed Cord Clamping is a term you're probably hearing more and more about, and not surprising at all! It has its advantages. Let's talk about them.

What is Delayed Cord Clamping?

If you choose for delated cordclamping, the midwife (or your partner, of course ;) will wait to clamp and cut the cord after birth. This is, of course, an incredibly beautiful and special moment. Your little one "detaches" from you after 9 months. During your pregnancy, you created a completely new organ: your placenta. The umbilical cord is connected to the placenta and provides your little one with nutrients and oxygen throughout the pregnancy. Now that your little one is born, that's no longer necessary. He or she will have to do it themselves! Cut that thing! Or should you wait a little longer...?

The role of the placenta and umbilical cord during pregnancy

The placenta, like the baby, grows in the uterus during pregnancy. Specifically, it grows in the uterine wall. It can be located anywhere, depending on where the implantation occurred. As long as the placenta isn't covering the cervix, it's fine. Around week 12 of pregnancy, the placenta is fully developed and functioning properly. The placenta has several functions:

• Separate the bloodstream of mother and child

• Ensures the production of various hormones

• Provides the baby with nutrients and oxygen

• Filters harmful substances

The separation of the circulatory system between mother and child is essential because your little one may have a different blood type than you. The placenta is actually made up of two parts: the maternal part and the infant part. A membrane separates these two circulatory systems. This membrane allows nutrients to pass through, returning them to the baby via the umbilical cord. In the other direction, from child to mother, your baby's waste products are expelled. Your body can then eliminate these waste products via the placenta. How magical is all of this?!

But why wait to cut the umbilical cord?

Once the baby is born, about 30% of the baby's blood remains in the placenta. It takes a while for all of this blood to be pumped to the baby. This varies from baby to baby. I'll summarize the advantages of waiting for episiotomy:

• Extra iron

• Extra stem cells

• Higher oxygen levels in the blood

The blood still present in the placenta is rich in iron. This is very useful for the baby, as it helps transport oxygen. It also reduces the risk of anemia.

Blood is also full of stem cells. These are essentially basic cells/building blocks, and they can develop into countless specific cells the body needs. You can never have too many! Stem cells can also renew themselves.

Oxygen levels are high in the placental blood. Your baby has just been born and now needs to start breathing on their own. This is a bit of a struggle, and sometimes it takes a while to get going. So, extra oxygen in the blood can't hurt to help them get started.

Are there any disadvantages to delayed cord clamping?

One disadvantage is that you can no longer donate umbilical cord blood after it has been drained. Everything needed for the donation will then be diverted to your own child.

Because waste products are also flowing to the baby, there has sometimes been an increased risk of jaundice in the baby. In this case, the waste product is bilirubin, which turns yellow as it breaks down.

But skin-to-skin contact and latching the baby on in the first hour after birth were supposed to help and compensate for this. This theory is apparently outdated, and it turns out that babies are just as likely to develop jaundice before the throbbing.

Discuss your wishes with your midwife or gynaecologist

Delayed cord clamping is often an option during a cesarean section. If you'd like this option, please discuss it with your midwife or gynecologist. In emergencies, the umbilical cord can also be "milked." This involves slowly and manually pushing the remaining blood toward the baby via the umbilical cord. This helps speed up the process somewhat.

Always be clear about your wishes during labor, for example, by creating a birth plan. You can also express these wishes in this plan!