I have been reading some articles recently about the benefits of leaving the umbilical cord to shut down on its own before cutting (and no need for clamping) - a delay after the baby's born of from 30 seconds onwards.
Apparently the placenta should ideally be above the level of the baby so the placental blood can drain into him. If the placenta is below the baby, blood can drain the other way which wouldn't be good.
All this stuff makes complete sense to me and I feel strongly about it, so I am going to do my best to insist that my baby's cord is not cut too soon. But I'm worrying that the staff around me would find this too much hassle - especially if the placenta remains inside for a while. It would also mean not having the baby immediately placed on my chest - I would want him next to me or somehow slightly below me (if the cord is long enough), if the cord isn't long enough I would want him to remain near my hips until the cord can be cut or the placenta comes out, which I would then want elevating.
I want to know if anyone has had this type of discussion with their midwives or obstetricians and what happened at the birth.
Or do midwives wait to cut the cord as a matter of course these days? (this is my first baby due in June).
Thanks!!
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Childbirth
Umbilical cord clamping/cutting
21 replies
charleypops · 10/12/2004 17:53
OP posts:
lockets ·
12/12/2004 01:32
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