Research is supporting the need for practioners to delay umbilical cord clamping after birth. Currently, most providers are cutting the cord after only 12-17 seconds.
There is a clear benefit to delaying cord clamping, even if it is just for 30 seconds after delivery. These benefits include important outcomes such as decreased rates of intraventricular hemorrhage and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates. Furthermore, this intervention seems to reduce the rate of neonatal anemia. This practice has been shown to be safe and should be implemented to increase neonatal iron storage at birth. (Barclay and Fogelson)
If the baby needs resuscitation, it is important to leave the cord intact and do all the work on Mom's body. Cutting the back-up oxygen supply doesn't make any sense at all.
I think it is interesting that scientists are now discovering that umbilical cord blood is full of valuable T-cells which have cancer fighting properties. A whole industry has sprung up to have this precious blood extracted, put in a cooler with dry ice, and taken to a special storage facility to be ready in case the child gets cancer at some time in the future. Parents are paying big money for this service! That blood is designed by Nature to go into that child's body at birth. We need to acknowledge that there are things about the newborn circulation and blood composition that we just don't know. We need to assume that Nature takes care of our children and provides babies with the nutrients that they need.
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Links for more information:
N. Fogelson. http://academicobgyn.com/2009/12/03/delayed-cord-clamping-should-be-standard-practice-in-obstetrics/
L. Barclay, MD. http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/530352
This is something I have actually been reading about recently because I am due to give birth again next month and want to ensure everything is as natural as possible and in the best interests of my son. Its hard because I live in an area that I believe is very backwards with its thinking and having an opinion that contradicts the OB's is highly frowned upon.
ReplyDeleteI found your article very interesting. I will definitely try to look into this more, as DH and I are expecting our first child this October.
ReplyDeletemakes sense to me:)
ReplyDelete