Are We Cutting Our Baby’s Umbilical Cord Too Early
The umbilical cord connects the baby to the mom while still in the uterus. This is baby’s lifeline for 9 months as mommy provides everything that is needed. The umbilical cord carries oxygen and essential nutrients from the moms’ placenta into the baby’s abdomen. The location of our belly button marks the spot where the cord was connected.
Right after delivery, within the first minute, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut and the physical bond between mom and child is cut forever. Researchers at the University of South Florida’s Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair recently put forward the idea that current clinical practice might actually be clamping or cutting the umbilical cord too soon.
Why is the cord clamped or cut?
Current clinical guidelines recommend that the cord is clamped (rather than immediately cut) within 1 minute after delivery. However, the timing of clamping has been a controversial issue debated for more than a century. Many doctors and midwives believe that “overtransfusion” as a result of late clamping can cause a lot of complications, especially jaundice. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended way back in 1995 that clamping the cord immediately after delivery “to obtain an arterial pH”. My mom told me once that if the umbilical cord is not cut, the placenta does not come out but this is probably just one of those old wives’ tales. A 2008 review revealed that babies whose cord was cut beyond the 1-minute mark have a higher risk for jaundice that requires phototherapy.
The benefits of delayed clamping
This concept of delaying the severance of the umbilical cord is not new. Even as early as 1998, OB-Gyne Dr. George Morley warned against hasty clamping of the cord. During natural delivery, he claims that placental respiration continues even after the baby is out of the birth canal. A placental transfusion is beneficial to the baby because it optimizes its blood volume which can then perfuse the lungs and other essential organs. However, clamping too soon interferes with this highly beneficial process. Some doctors practice the so-called “cord stripping” or “cord milking” which is making sure all cord blood is transfused into the baby before clamping is done. Several studies have shown that this procedure is actually beneficial for very preterm babies. One study showed that preemies born between the 24th and the 28th week of pregnancy and underwent cord stripping needed less blood transfusion and respiratory support. In another study, delayed clamping improved blood pressure in preemies born the 24th and 32nd week of pregnancy.
Scientists point out that in animals born naturally, the severance of the cord takes time, allowing the maternal blood transfer to be completed. The traditional position of giving birth in humans – squatting – also facilitated faster transfer of cord blood from mom to child by the simple downward pull of gravity. However, the current practice of birthing while lying down slows down the blood transfer. This is even worse in C-section deliveries where the babies are lifted out of the abdomen, always above the level of the mother’s body.
Natural stem cell transplant
In recent years, the field of biotechnology discovered that the umbilical cord is more than just a supply channel of food, blood and oxygen. It is also a great source of stem cells in the so-called cord blood. These stem cells are not embryonic stem cells per se, but they are close enough without the ethical and religious issues involved. In other words, the umbilical cord can actually transplant stem cells directly from the mom to the baby. Thus, delayed clamping does not only allow longer blood transfusion, it can also be viewed as “nature’s first stem cell transplant.”
Nowadays, stem cell therapy can be used for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Florida researchers believe that delaying the clamping or cutting of the cord can benefit babies, especially the preemies and those suffering from illnesses and other complications through natural stem cell therapy. But even apparently healthy babies of normal weight can benefit from an extra dose of stem cells.
For us moms, we are more than happy to give anything to keep our babies healthy. Even if this means keeping the umbilical cord attached a longer. Another extra minute of attachment may mean a lifetime of difference for our baby’s health.
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Are We Cutting Our Baby’s Umbilical Cord Too Early
