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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Can someone talk to me about cutting the umbilical cord?

21 replies

Kayzr · 12/03/2012 13:44

With my first 2 the umbilical cord was cut almost straight away.

Recently I have been seeing on MN and a few other places about not cutting it for a while after birth. Can I ask why this is and what the benefits are?

Also I am planning a water birth. Can I still ask the MW to delay cutting it?

Can I still have the injection to help the placenta come out if the cutting is delayed?

Thank you.

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StarlightDicKenzie · 12/03/2012 14:31

When you cut the cord you cut off the baby's oxygen supply and effectively say 'right now baby, - you're on you're own - best start breathing then!. Delyaing it is kinder and allows your baby to get to grips with their new surroundings and new demands and adjust.

Also, whilst the cord is till pulsating there is still blood and therefore oxygen and iron and other nutrients going into your baby. The baby is subsequently less likely to suffer from jaundice, and iron stores will not be depleted before they are weaned.

I had a waterbirth last time, and stayed in the pool cuddling the baby and recovering, with the cord uncut until well after the placenta had been delivered.

If you want to have the injection at any stage you will have to get out of the pool. The injection can also interfere with the afterbirth hormones for the mother reducing the effect of the 'high' that you can get and has side effects of making the mother sick or trembly. It can also put a time on when the placenta has to be delivered as the cervix will begin to close due to the drug and you'd want the placenta out before then.

There are good reasons to have the injection, but most of them are to do with having had an intervention-heavy labour and delivery, when your hormones have been scuppered and you're body is confused.

hth

Original poster

Kayzr · 12/03/2012 14:42

Oh so I can stay in the pool while the placenta is delivered then? I assumed I would have to get out pretty much as soon as the baby was born.

OP posts:

StarlightDicKenzie · 12/03/2012 14:59

Nope - BUT most midwives are used to having the woman get out so be prepared to explain in advance that that is what you will be doing 'unless the midwife has any cause for concern of course', which she should explain to you at the time.

I researched it a plenty and my midwife agreed, although was a bit surprised. I on the other hand did agree to get out if she had any concern, which in the event she didn't.

But if you really do feel well, they can hardly haul you out against your will.

I think the usual reason for getting out is to have a managed 3rd stage, which is the usual way, so it has just become automatic that women get out when it isn't always necessary.

TheGreatHunt · 12/03/2012 15:17

I had the cord cut once it stopped pulsing as it increases baby's blood volume, iron stores etc.

I also had the injection both times. First time because I was losing blood, second time because the placenta wasn't arriving despite DD feeding, me walking about and going to the loo! Was a bit uncomfy having the placenta out that way (the MW helped it along too..) but I was tired of waiting.

Original poster

Kayzr · 12/03/2012 15:23

I had the injection with both of the boys and it was fine. I am slightly worried about not having it this time.

OP posts:

Indith · 12/03/2012 15:27

You can change your mind at any point about the injection though. They will have it ready just in case they have to give it anyway (if anything goes wrong). I didn't have it with dd, placenta came away by itself but this time after an hour of feeding and skin to skin I just wanted the bloody thing out so we cut the cord and I had the injection.

Original poster

Kayzr · 12/03/2012 18:49

I might put that into the birth plan. That I would like to do it without the injection but have the option of having it if it is taking quite a while.

OP posts:

TheGreatHunt · 12/03/2012 19:06

That's what I did both times and it was fine.

4madboys · 12/03/2012 19:23

i did what starlight did for the birth of my ds4 and it was fine, i did find the contractions to deliver the placenta stronger than the time when i had the injection with my previous births, but i was in the pool and it was fine, lovely and warm and relaxing and i was snugglign ds4 so didnt mind at all and the placenta just slipped out and the midwife scooped it up and then cut the cord :)
and yes you can request the injection if you decide you dont want to wait once the cord has stopped pulsating :)

chocolatemarzipan · 14/03/2012 11:29

With my first, the cord was cut straight away because he needed a bit of oxygen. I asked to have the cutting delayed with my second and they waited until it had stopped pulsating. It was really noticeable how much pinker my second baby was, I think they can leave a lot of blood behind in the placenta if the cord is cut straight away. I had the injection once the cord had been cut and the placenta came out with no problems.

SecondTimeLucky · 15/03/2012 22:33

My first was a forceps delivery, so immediate cord cutting.

DD2 was born at home and i had delayed clamping.

I am told that some midwives don't like to plan for a delayed injection. It's to do with the fact that the injection decreases the risk of PPH, but increases the risk of retained placenta. If you inject late, the risk of retained placenta is increased (or something along those lines, it's all gone a bit vague in my mind). I was therefore told it was better to say you were planning a natural third stage, but then change your mind if it was slow - rather than planning from the off to have a delayed injection.

In my case DD2 was born before the midwife arrived and I ended up with paramedics rushing into the house just after she was born instead. That seemed to give me a bit of an adrenalin rush and my placenta refused to budge, so when the midwife arrived I ended up with the injection anyway. So the cord cut cut before the placenta was delivered, but after it has stopped pulsating.

midwivesdeliver · 16/03/2012 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

runlolarun10 · 16/03/2012 11:59

Sorry to sound ignorant, but how long does it take for the cord to stop pulsating? Are we talking minutes or much longer? Thanks!

StarlightDicKenzie · 16/03/2012 12:01

But the thirds stage fecking hurts without any pain relief. The pool as well as the undisturbedness of it plus the keeping hold of your baby surely means the hormones do their thang better?

Minty82 · 16/03/2012 12:06

Glad you started this thread - I'm expecting my first baby next week and have been wondering about this. Prefer the idea of enabling the baby to get all the benefits it can from the placenta before the cord is cut, but am also wondering whether delaying would mean that there's quite a long stage where I'm able to cuddle the baby etc but my husband isn't because it's still attached to me?! Also, is a natural third stage more painful/long drawn out?

5madthings · 16/03/2012 14:10

starlight i found that the natural third stage contractions were really strong, i muttered something about wanting gas and air to the midwife, but just focused on snuggling my little one, it was nice in the lovely warm pool and he was just all open eyed and looking around and then the placenta just popped out, no pushing or anything from me, then the midwife cut the cord and scooped up the placenta, it wasnt how i had planned to do it, i wanted to delay clamping etc, but i think i had thought i would get out to deliver the placenta, the midwife didnt even suggest i got out, i think she could see that we were both perfectly happy and she just sat by the side of the pool filling out paperwork etc whilst i sat in the pool holding ds4 and dp was sat by the side of the pool sort of half leaning over and giving me a hug :)

ProlificYoungGentlemenBreeder · 16/03/2012 14:13

Last year when I had ds2 the midwife didn't cut it for ages which I was really happy about.

StarlightDicKenzie · 16/03/2012 14:29

That sounds lovely 5.

When I showed the mw my birth plan she was a bit worried but afterwards said she'd encourage others to do it that way. In fact things were going so well and I was so calm and alive I suggested she cut the cord before the placenta be delivered because I knew that was her preferred option. She almost insisted on waiting, so I changed my mind.

StarlightDicKenzie · 16/03/2012 14:35

When out of the pool, the mw then sat by my side with the placenta and knife and fork (I'm sure it wasn't a knife and fork but that is my memory) and dissected the placenta with running commentary, as per my birth plan.

At that point I wish she'd just bloody well get in with it....... but she was a superstar midwife and I didn't want to offend her and her efforts so I had to look alert and interested in my post-birth biology lesson.

She even got a mirror so I could inspect her stitching as she did each layer.

bronze · 16/03/2012 14:40

I've have links about this
I had a physiological final stage and sing its praises everywhere so have had to have info to show people who ask
cords are anazing

bronze · 16/03/2012 14:42

With the injection I found after having the baby it didn't stop. I couldn't concentrate solely on the baby and just chilling because they jabbed me in the leg and then I was supposed to push the afterbirth out

With ds3 I refused the injection. I was on my knees at the end of the bed, caught him as he came out, turned over and we sat and snuggled and he fed. Also had a sandwich and phoned my parents and generally just chilled. About 40 minutes later I gave a quick push and the afterbirth was out and I cut the cord.
Very chilled and at 2 hes still easy going

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