top of page

Delayed Cordclamping

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 of course ;) will wait to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after birth. This is of course an incredibly beautiful and special moment. Your little one 'comes apart' from you after 9 months. During your pregnancy, you have created a completely new organ: your placenta. The umbilical cord is connected to the placenta, and provides your little one with nutrients and oxygen during pregnancy. Now that your little one has been born, this is no longer necessary. He/she has to do it himself/herself! Cut that thing! Or maybe wait a little longer...?


The role of the placenta and umbilical cord during pregnancy

The placenta grows during your pregnancy, just like the baby, in the uterus. Actually in your uterine wall to be precise. This can be located anywhere: this depends on where the implantation has taken place. As long as the placenta is not in front of the cervix, it is fine. Around week 12 of pregnancy, the placenta is fully grown and functions properly. The placenta has several functions:


  • Separate the blood circulation of mother and child

  • Ensures the production of various hormones

  • Provides the baby with nutrients and oxygen

  • Filters harmful substances


The fact that the blood circulation is separated from mother and child is necessary, because it is possible that your little one has a different blood group than you do. The placenta actually consists of two parts: the maternal part and the child's part. There is a membrane between these parts, which ensures the separation of the two blood circulations. This membrane allows the nutrients to pass through, which return to the baby via the umbilical cord. In the other direction, from child to mother, waste products from your baby are expelled. Via the placenta, the waste products can be cleaned up by your body again. How magical is all this?!


But why wait to cut the umbilical cord?

Once the baby is born, there is still about 30% of the baby's blood in the placenta. It takes a while for all of this blood to be pumped to the baby. This is different for each baby. I will list the advantages of waiting to cut:


  • Extra iron

  • Extra stem cells

  • Higher oxygen levels in the blood


The blood that is still in the placenta is full of iron. The baby can use this well as it helps transport oxygen. This also reduces the chance of anemia.

The blood is also full of stem cells. These are actually basic cells / building cells, and can grow into countless specific cells that the body needs. You can't have enough of these! A stem cell can also renew itself.

The oxygen level is high in the blood of the placenta. Your little one has just come into the world, and now has to start breathing on his own. This is quite a struggle, and sometimes it takes a while to get going. Extra oxygen in the blood can't hurt to 'help get started'.





Are there any disadvantages to delayed cord clamping?

A disadvantage is that you can no longer donate umbilical cord blood after it has been pulsated. Everything needed for the donation is then given to your own child.


Because waste products flow to the baby in addition to nutrients, there has sometimes been an increased risk of jaundice in the baby. In this case, it concerns the waste product bilirubin, which turns yellow when broken down.

But skin-to-skin contact and latching the baby in the first hour after birth would also help and compensate for this. This theory would be outdated, and in the end babies appear to have just as much chance of jaundice before the throbbing.



Discuss your wishes with your midwife or gynaecologist

Also during a caesarean section there is often the possibility of delayed cord clamping. If you have this wish, discuss it with your midwife or gynaecologist. In emergencies, the umbilical cord can also be 'milked'. In this case, the remaining blood is slowly pushed forward by hand to the baby via the umbilical cord. This helps to speed up the process somewhat.

Always be clear about your wishes during childbirth, for example by making a birth plan. You can also express this wish in this!




 
 
 

コメント


bottom of page