CS and leaving cord uncut for a while? Can it be done?

[Wiggy29]

I'm really interested in leaving the cord between 3-5 mins after birth until it has stopped pulsing to allow all of the blood to transfer. That said, I may be having an ELCS- if this is the case could I still leave the cord for a short time? Does anybody have any experience of this?

NHS. I'm not sure about the technicalities so excuse me if this question is a bit , but could they not lift the placenta out at the same time as the baby so it could be kept attached for a few moments?

When I had a elcs as they dropped the green screen a bit and lifted my dc up to show me i instinctively put my arms up to take him and everyone shouted no! When I asked it was the fact that I was not scrubbed etc and he was still attached and I was open. They cut the cord, wrapped him in a towel then I could have him.

I don't think they'd let you hold the baby while the cord was attached as it would be out of the sterile area. It's also very hard to hold a baby when you are flat on your back in that situation.

Ah, seems unlikely then. Thanks for the info though, was wondering if I should put it in a birth plan but seems a bit pointless.

I have had 2 ELCSs. With both of my children they were put straight on to my bare chest (gown on back to front) for immediate skin to skin and feeding. One had the cord cut because it was a little too short but the other baby was with cord until it stopped pulsing.

Ask the surgeon (in all probability not a consultant) if this is possible. If they say no then ask why not - what are the risks, and do they outway the benefits of retaining the cord.

I wouldn't accept any comments about being out of the sterile area!?!? Sterility is required to stop you getting an infection in your cut body, not to stop your baby getting an infection from your skin. Otherwise, a baby would never breastfeed!

I'd really like to hear how you get on with this.

My dh was allowed to cut the cord so I'd definitely ask 're any other requests. I think it depends on how busy they are etc.

I was unable to hold ds as I was very shakey from the drugs etc but dh held him close to me so I could see and talk to him.

I work as a MW and there is a quite old school consultant where I work that has researched this and changed his practice to delay cord clamping at CS - provided baby does not require immediate life-saving action, of course.
The baby will remain in the sterile field in this time. It us not until the cord has been clamped and the third stage drugs given that the placenta is lifted out.