When to cut the cord?

[Levanna]

Hello again! I'm really aware of asking loads of questions at the moment, but I really appreciate the replies I've received .
What are people's opinions of when the best time to cut the cord is? I am quite happy to have it cut prior to delivering the placenta. Removing my placenta was a touch problematic last time (i.e. I didn't birth it so much as have it tugged out), so I think this may have a bearing on why I'd like it separated from the baby as soon as possible. What though are the pros and cons of cutting the cord sooner rather than later? I wouldn't even consider it, but a friend I have invited to the birth is encouraging me to think it through. I will of course do whatever I'm happiest with, and I know this friend respects all my decisions, but I would like to know more?
TIA!

With dd1 the cord was cut immediately after delivery, but with the others I waited until the cord had stopped pulsating, and also delivered the placenta naturally. The midwives were quite encouraging , saying it was good for the baby to get the extra blood, and anti bodies (iirc).

Hi Levanna
We had planned on letting the cord stop pulsating before cutting it - I read a lot of books which listed all the benefits to baby (extra blood, oxygen, antibodies & gentler transition to breathing IIRC) so we decided it was the best plan of action if possible. As it turned out dd had a very short cord (could only just reach my tummy button) and in order for her to come further up my body to attempt BF we had to cut it. It was the only thing on my birth plan that didn't happen - I remember my wonderful midwife explaining it to me just before my DH was asked to snip it. When/if we have another baby we'll try the same again and hope for the best.
Best of luck whatever you decide, mit x

Well this is the most radical way... it's called the lotus birth and here is a testimony ... many women go yuk but don't even try to understand why anyone would consider it... so maybe it's worth reading... at least it broadens someone's mind

There is also the more mainstream practice to cut the cord ONLY when the placenta has been delivered in a physiological way (no drugs). This allows baby to get the most of the placenta and NOT to disturb baby and placenta until the birthing process is finished.

just one aside: if you end up having an injection for delivery of the placenta for any reason you have to have the cord cut immediately (no waiting for it to stop pulsing) or at least this is what i have been told..

Sorry here is the midwife article on this practice

Look here too at the bottom of the page

With ds I didn't have a choice. He was born with the cord so tightly wrapped around his neck that the midwife couldn't loop it over his head, and she had to cut it between contractions. 'Don't push' she said, and boy did dh and I pant!

I was reading an article the other day about brain damage caused by possible oxigen deprivation in children who have had the cord clamped too early. Asking this question never came to my mind before the birth, I would have liked to have more information about it before the birth, stupid me just realise about that possibiity 2 days ago

... before I set you in panic, vey few children had the problem!

Presumably that was in cases where the cord was clamped before the baby took its first independent breath?

...or during C-sections

Thanks for your replies. I couldn't access most of the links unfortunately Pupuce, I think I have read about the lotus option before though - is it when the cord and placenta are left alone to part from the baby of their own accord? If so, it's certainly not the way I'd go, but is quite thought provoking! Last time I was given syntometrine, and the cord was cut. There was quite a delay between receiving the syntometrine and the placenta delivering though, and I lost about a pint. I feel sure though that the blood loss was due to the aggressive ways in which they tried to 'remove' my placenta when panic set in that it would not come free.
I'm still erring towards my original feelings on having the cord cut as soon as independant breathing is extablished, but I'd appreciate any further views/experiences too!
Thanks again .

Just looked at the link you put in Pupuce, and I thought the following points were very interesting (particularly the bit about only needing to delay clamping by 30 seconds). Certainly better to be aware of these before you make a decision, one way or the other!

mit x

Some evidence shows that the practice of clamping the cord, which is not practiced by indigenous cultures, contributes both to postpartum hemorrhage and retained placenta by trapping extra blood (about 100 mL) within the placenta. This increases placental bulk, which the uterus cannot contract efficiently against and which is more difficult to expel.

• Walsh, S. (1968, May 11).

Some studies have shown an increased risk of polycythemia (more red blood cells in the blood) and jaundice when the cord is clamped later. Polycythemia may be beneficial in that more red cells mean more oxygen being delivered to the tissues. The risk that polycythemia will cause the blood to become too thick (hyperviscosity syndrome), which is often used as an argument against delayed cord clamping, seems to be negligible in healthy babies.

• Morley, ibid

Premature babies who experienced delayed cord clampingthe delay was only 30 secondsshowed a reduced need for transfusion, less severe breathing problems, better oxygen levels, and indications of probable improved long-term outcomes compared with those whose cords were clamped immediately.

• Kinmond, S. et al. (1993

Early cord clamping deprives the baby of 54-160 mL of blood, which represents up to half of a baby's total blood volume at birth. "Clamping the cord before the infant's first breath results in blood being sacrificed from other organs to establish pulmonary perfusion [blood supply to the lungs]. Fatality may result if the child is already hypovolemic [low in blood volume]".

• Morley, G. (1998, July). Cord closure: Can hasty clamping injure the newborn? OBG Mgmnt: 29-36.