A stunning photo has highlighted the benefits of delayed cord clamping – and it’s an incredible photo and a rare opportunity to see a placenta in such detail.
Kate Kennedy Birth Photography took the photo, which was shared on Birth Without Fear’s Facebook page with the caption:
“Perfect baby Elliot, born 5 weeks early and only weighing 2.09kg.
His mum had a beautiful home birth planned but it wasn’t to be.
Despite the fact that he had to be born in a hospital, she was able to have an intervention-free birth, including a physiological third stage with delayed cord clamping. Hooray to mothers being respected in birth!”
Cutting the umbilical cord straight after birth has been common practice in UK hospitals for the past 60 years because doctors believed it reduced the risk of newly-delivered mothers haemorraging.
However, there is growing evidence that delaying it can be beneficial for the baby.
Babies continue to receive blood and oxygen through the placenta for several minutes after birth.
As the cord pulsates it delivers “essential oxygen and nutrients to the baby and begins to deliver blood back to the baby.”
Delayed cord clamping has been shown to improve newborn hemoglobin levels and circulating iron, as well as give the newborn oxygen-rich blood as they are taking their initial breaths and inflating their lungs after birth.
There are so many benefits to waiting even just a couple of minutes after birth to clamp the cord. If you are interested in delayed cord clamping, be sure and ask your provider about it.
