Early cord clamping ONCE AGAIN advocated to be wrong

[NumptyMum]

So why oh why is it so hard to MAKE THEM WAIT in my experience?
Delayed clamping of the umbilical cord is better for newborns' health, say Swedish researchers.

This is NOT a new story, it has been around from at least 2007 when I was pregnant with my first. In my notes, I specifically asked for delayed clamping if possible; but oh no - during labour my husband was questioned again and again about this. Then at birth the MW PUT THE CLAMP ON, turned to DH and brightly said 'look, it's stopped pulsating now, would you like to cut the cord?'. Yes, of COURSE it had stopped pulsating, with a bloody clamp on it!

Even last time, in 2010 with DD I'm not sure they delayed much, though given my whole birth experience was better I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that hopefully they did.

But what is going on with the NHS and midwives? Are they not doing any professional practice that would update them on this? Were we the only couple to have such trouble getting what we wanted??

It is down to the individual midwives. First hospital birth - induction, arm, waterbirth no clamping for about 20 minutes until cord white and closed down naturally. Second birth in different area of country was home water birth and the on call midwife clamped and cut straight away without asking never having read birth plan!

That's what I mean! It is frustrating that there is no recommendation as such, and that birth experiences can vary so much! Surely the health of a newborn baby ought to be prioritised, where possible, and therefore why this rush to clamp the cord if the parent actually wishes it to be left even for 1 minute?!

Speaking as a very old midwife (trained 1978) we were taught never cut the cord until it has stopped pulsating unless the baby needed immediate attention, I thought it was common practice so I am staggered at these posts.

2old2beamum, I wanted to wait until the cord stopped pulsing, but DD shot out so fast she snapped it (we were at home). I've been wanting to ask how common or uncommon that scenario is. Do you know?

mumwithdice Only saw this once (I was only a student M/W) and it was the mother's health that was the concern. The baby was fine. Can't be any more helpful as I moved to NICU as soon as I qualified. The worry was the mother could have a Post partum haemorrhage.In an ideal world the cord should be cut after pulsating but labour is only normal in retrospect.

My (then) DP had to physically prevent the midwife from cutting me with a scalpel with DC1.

If I had had information about this, I would have asked for non-intervention also.

2old, DD and I were both fine. That was 11 months ago.