How Delayed Cord Clamping Works

Let’s talk about delayed cord clamping and clear up a misconception that I hear all the time... ready? Here we go!

After a baby is born they are still attached to the umbilical cord which is part of the placenta which is still attached to the wall of the uterus. As long as the placenta is attached to the uterus the cord will be pulsing with blood from the placenta, this blood gives the baby an extra boost of oxygen and helps him/her transition better.

However, once the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus the cord stops pulsing because the source of the pulsing was the attachment of the placenta to the maternal blood vessels in the uterus.. are with you me?

Sometimes the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus and stays either in the uterus or in the vaginal canal until the mother pushes it out and/or the midwife or doctor helps it out. So it could seem like the baby is receiving benefit from the placenta when in reality they are no longer receiving any nutrients from it at all because it is not attached to the uterus anymore.

What is super cool is that you don’t have to take my word for it. After your baby is born just lightly pinch his/her cord between your fingers to see if you feel a pulse. I dare you! It’s so cool. Once you do not feel a pulse and the cord is flat and white rather than white with a beautiful purple/blue squiggle through it then you know your baby has gotten everything they need from their placenta.

There is no medical benefit from the baby remaining attached to the placenta laying inside a bowl next to you while you breastfeed other than that it looks freakin awesome (which.. let’s be real that actually is a benefit).

What do you think?