When It's Time to Cut the Cord

Hello Friends! Here are a few simple thoughts about cutting your baby’s cord after birth.

Enjoy!

1. The cord should be white (like in this picture) not blue/purple. If it is completely white and thin that means that the baby has gotten all of the blood possible from the placenta.

2. You (or whomever you choose) should be allowed to cut it! Cutting the cord is a big deal! That cord provided your baby with life for their entire existence. Cutting the cord can be very symbolic of taking responsibility to continue to care for and nourish your baby now that s/he is on the outside. I love to ask dads to cut the cord. Fathers don’t get to nourish the baby with their body while they are growing or when they are a newborn but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a huge responsibility to care for their baby in other ways.

3. You should know your options! Some people choose to burn the cord rather than cut it (I have never had the chance to see this in my practice!). Some people actually choose to leave the cord and placenta completely attached to the baby until the cord falls off naturally. This is called a lotus birth. What do you think about that??

-R. ALICE