Revolutionizing Birth: Changing Birthing Practices

Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Medically, the umbilical cord is defined as a conduit connecting the fetus or embryo to the placenta. A recent practice change was discussed, regarding child birthing, at the CME conference held in Kota, Rajasthan in Dec’23.

While the placenta helps the baby breathe and grow inside the mother, the umbilical cord provides blood vessels carrying oxygen and food. It also helps in excreting waste from the system.

The umbilical cord is like a common passage between the baby and mother to support the baby’s survival inside the womb. In both normal and cesarean birth, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut from the baby even before the delivery of the placenta. While this might seem like a common practice, recent studies have shown benefits in the delayed cutting of the umbilical cord. This means that the umbilical cord is cut after a minute or two allowing the blood to reach the baby while the cord is still pulsating.

This has become a gold standard specifically in cases where a baby is born prematurely thereby decreasing the need for transfusion and the occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

There are also a few associated risk factors with this procedure such as Jaundice, Polychthemia (Excess RBCs in circulation), and Respiratory distress.

So it's important to consult your doctor if you wish to carry out a delayed umbilical cord cut during your baby’s birth.

References:

• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.13132

• https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-cut-an-umbilical-cord-2752960