Umbilical Cord Clamping

Filed in archive Childbirth on April 16, 2008

© drcorneilus

In a lot of pregnant women's birth plans are instructions regarding the timing of the clamping/cutting of the umbilical cord. While it used to be that the umbilical cord is clamped and cut almost immediately after delivery, it is now widely practiced to delay clamping by about 30 seconds to 2 minutes, until the cord has stopped pulsing. This allows for more blood infusion from the mother to the baby, resulting to more iron stores and thus reducing the infant's risk for anemia in the first months of life.

However, this same blood infusion resulting from delayed umbilical cord clamping can result to jaundice in some babies. jaundice can be treated by simple exposure to sunlight, and in severe cases, with phototherapy. Speak to your doctor so you can better assess your risks.