One procedure more parents are considering as part of the birth plan is when to cut the umbilical cord. Should the cord be cut just after the birth? Should you wait until it stops pulsating to cut it?
There are two completely different opinions on when to cut the umbilical cord. Some doctors believe the cord should be cut immediately after birth and not later than 30 seconds after the baby is born. This is largely due to a belief that delayed cord cutting can cause breathing difficulties in the new baby.
Other doctors and most midwives are advocates of delayed cord cutting. These professionals and many parents believe the baby benefits from the extra blood received through delayed cord cutting. Some parents request waiting until the cord stops pulsating for this reason.
A review of eleven studies published in The Cochrane Library has shown that there are benefits and risks to delayed cord cutting. The studies looked at potential benefits from delaying cutting until the umbilical cord stops pulsating.
The delay time in the studies was between one and two minutes. The studies found the babies that had their cords cut after they stopped pulsating had better stores of iron in the blood. This results in a reduced risk of developing anemia in the first few months of life.
There was a risk discovered in these studies. The babies with delayed cord cutting were more likely to develop jaundice. Jaundice is caused by the immature liver not processing bilirubin efficiently. Bilirubin comes from breaking down old red blood cells.
Fortunately, jaundice is fairly easy to treat. The babies in the study were treated with exposure to sunlight or phototherapy. In the end, only you and your doctor can weigh the risks and benefits to determine which choice is best for your baby.
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