Postponing cutting the cord.

Squishycheeks · May 2009

Is anyone else interested in leaving the baby's umbillical cord attached for a few extra minutes? Just curious on your thoughts as to why, or why not.

LadyNikon · May 2009

I heard that this allows the baby to get most nutrients before you cut the cord. I haven't really read up on it though.

Jason'swife · May 2009

We'll leave it until it stops pulsing.

The main reason for taking this route is that the cord will continue to deliver oxygen to baby until it stops pulsing. That way if LO has a bunch of mucous in his/her airway or is having trouble breathing they're still getting plenty of oxygen. Seems like a reasonable approach to me.

electricdoctor83 · May 2009

My OB doesn't like waiting, babies tend to have more jaundice when the cord clamping is delayed. The baby gets a huge surge of extra red blood cells which is hard for their immature liver to break down which in turn causes their bili levels to be too high. I am not having the cord cutting delayed, but some other women think it's a good thing to do? Talk to your OB or MW about it.

mlh21 · May 2009

Haven't read much of anything on this. Actually, never heard of it! I figured we just cut it when they told my DH to do it. Now you have me wondering...

1SwtWld · May 2009

We're doing that. Letting the cord pump all the blood into the baby before cutting it. I don't see the point in cutting it before that and there are some benefits, but I think it's more of a preference than anything. We're not storing it because of one, the expense and two, our medical histories don't really suggest that it would be a critical thing for us.

Obviously, if we can't delay for medical reasons, then that's fine.

Some people think you're insane if you don't store the cord blood, I don't know why. It's a personal decision.

lhull · May 2009

Never heard of this. How long do you wait? Minutes? half hour?

water-fairy · May 2009

I have no idea. I plan on discussing it with my OB next time.

korinne76 · May 2009

We are not delaying because we are banking the cord blood.

Jason'swife · May 2009

lhull:
Never heard of this. How long do you wait? Minutes? half hour?

I believe it's just a couple minutes. Definitely not hours.

LadyNikon · May 2009

electricdoctor83:
My OB doesn't like waiting, babies tend to have more jaundice when the cord clamping is delayed. The baby gets a huge surge of extra red blood cells which is hard for their immature liver to break down which in turn causes their bili levels to be too high. I am not having the cord cutting delayed, but some other women think it's a good thing to do? Talk to your OB or MW about it.

i think that depends on how they hold the baby once born.

electricdoctor83 · May 2009

electricdoctor83:
My OB doesn't like waiting, babies tend to have more jaundice when the cord clamping is delayed. The baby gets a huge surge of extra red blood cells which is hard for their immature liver to break down which in turn causes their bili levels to be too high. I am not having the cord cutting delayed, but some other women think it's a good thing to do? Talk to your OB or MW about it.

I want to add, I want the cord to not be clamped immediately but within 3 minutes or so....waiting 2 minutes has it's benefits too but I don't want to wait longer than that. Some people wait for it to stop pulsating completely.

electricdoctor83 · May 2009

Ladynikon:

electricdoctor83:
My OB doesn't like waiting, babies tend to have more jaundice when the cord clamping is delayed. The baby gets a huge surge of extra red blood cells which is hard for their immature liver to break down which in turn causes their bili levels to be too high. I am not having the cord cutting delayed, but some other women think it's a good thing to do? Talk to your OB or MW about it.

i think that depends on how they hold the baby once born.

Oh, I'll have to bring that up with my doc again, maybe I misunderstood him? Thanks.

GypsyEsq · May 2009

Our plan is to delay cord cutting for the reasons already mentioned. If for any medical reason we can't we are asking for the cord blood to be donated.

kima76 · May 2009

We are waiting for a minute and then my DH is going to cut the cord!

It will be special!

blf722 · May 2009

We're waiting to cut the cord until it stops pulsing or at least a couple minutes. Main reason is as stated above about continuing to receive oxygen through the placenta.

FazFam · May 2009

Check with your OB, some dont allow this because of what a pp said, it can increase risk of jaundice because of the big flow of red blood cells. I can understand the rationale of waiting, just do your research to understand risks and benefits.

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Postponing cutting the cord.

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