We had already talked about that study published in JAMA Pediatrics that advised delaying clamping of the umbilical cord for a few minutes after delivery, but I think it is a good time to explain in more detail the benefits that are obtained. That report ensured that an action as simple as delaying the moment of punching and cutting, could prevent iron deficiency during childhood of the child. Previous work pointed out that only two minutes influence the development of the baby in the days following birth.
What is the umbilical cord? MarÃa José explained very well in this post the functions it has, it is a very important organ as it provides nourishment to the fetus from the placenta. Nourishes and provides oxygen, and continues to deliver oxygen to the baby when his lungs are not yet working or acting as a supplier. It is a matter of minutes, but if it is not clamped there, the cord continues to act as a nexus. Why put so much emphasis? How important is it to wait to cut the umbilical cord?
Yes that is important, but I will go further: if we let it collapse without clamping, you may only have to wait three minutes, Although there are times when the process takes a little longer (up to 20 minutes) it is not an eternity either. Aided by the placenta, it does nothing more than perform another of its important functions, and act as Nature has intended; If the cord still carries oxygen, the baby will have two sources of supply. It is believed that early impingement can disrupt these life support systems, leading to injury.
Umbilical cord: after delivery, wait for it to stop beating.
The practice of letting everything take its natural course prevents cerebral anoxia, and its role in the well-being of babies born with acute fetal distress should not be underestimated. According to this information published on the EPEN website, WHO instste in late clamping or no clamping. There is no time limit, 2 minutes? they may or may not be sufficient; the umbilical cord should stop beating on its own, and ideally the professionals attending the delivery should also wait for the delivery of the placenta.
The cord that no longer fulfills its functions is white, it abandons its mission when it is no longer needed. There are already many voices that ask that Nature be allowed to take its course, there are a series of practices that should not be such, but part of a process: the non-separation of mom and baby, breastfeeding, the late cutting of the cord ... In many aspects of these physiological processes it is better not to intervene, but professionals must also be prepared for possible eventualities. On the subject at hand, the belief that it was necessary to clamp early to prevent bleeding in the mother prevailed one day, and it was also related to the appearance of neonatal jaundice; by the way, the risk of jaundice does not vary depending on what we do with the umbilical cord.
What if it is not clamped? And is clamped very late?
A review of randomized controlled clinical trials seems to conclude that symptomatic polycythemia cannot be associated with late cord cutting. It is a disorder caused by an excess of red blood cells in the blood circulation, which even hinders circulation, and can affect the organs.
Here is a quote from the cited post from EPEN:
Only one case has been described in which there could be a risk that the baby receives more blood than it should: in water deliveries, if the water is more than 37 degrees and the placenta-cord-baby trinomial being under water can lead to vasodilation. There is only one article but there is no research on it. It is recommended to clamp after 5 minutes or empty the pool just in case. Once the water no longer covers the cord or is less than 5'37 there is no risk.
Benefits of late clamping / no clamping of the umbilical cord.
In addition to the fact that hyperbilirubinemia due to late clamping has not been demonstrated, there are other negative consequences of early clamping of the cord: babies slow to react, weak, planetary 'source' interrupted too early, stopping blood transfusion, which is related to the iron deficiency mentioned. On the contrary, the benefits:
If the blood that the placenta continues to pump is considered as a nutrient, it is evident that this in itself is a benefit, in addition the lungs will not be 'forced' and it is not necessary to cause crying, thus separating the baby from its mother.
These recommendations are also useful to follow when the baby has been delivered by cesarean section.
Picture - Tbsdy lives