Elective c-section and delayed cord clamping

[Winterwoollies]

Does anyone have any experience of delayed cord cleaning and an elective c-section?

I want to do it if possible and would be curious to know how it actually goes in practice. And can it work alongside skin-to-skin? Do they remove the placenta and leave it attached or do they leave that in situ?

And roughly how long does it take to stop pulsing?

S2S plans would involve me having the baby for a bit and then my H having him while I’m patched up so we both get a go.

Anyone with experience, I’d love to hear your anecdotes before I see my doc next week.

Thank you!

No advice but following as I would like the same :)

In my trust, delayed cord clamping is done as standard in all sections, so long as baby is in good condition and mum isn't bleeding heavily.

We wait one minute before clamping and cutting the cord. We can't wait for it to stop pulsing, as that can take several minutes, and baby needs to get somewhere warm asap. Theatres are cold places! Placenta is left in situ until baby is out of the way.

Baby is then either given directly to mum for skin to skin or taken to the resuscitaire for a check over, wipe down and weighing. You decide what you want. Dad can trim down the cord while there as well. Baby is then returned to you or Dad for skin to skin or wrapped up snuggles.

Hopefully that helped a bit. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. Otherwise good luck!

Done as standard here too unless the baby needs attention,if the cords long enough you may get a little peep over the screen.

Following as this is also something I'm interested in.

I didn't have an elective it was emergency ish (long story) but I had delayed clamping in my preferences. He was born, they waited 3 minutes during which he cried and cried because they were holding him kind of suspended above my stomach. They clamped it then and passed him to me. I'm glad they did it but had I know he'd just be dangling in front of me crying I might have asked if that aspect could be changed in any way!

@Dyra thanks! That’s really informative.

@Foggymist that’s worth bearing in mind. I’ll ask if the baby can be laid on me if the cord is long enough, rather than leave them hanging!

Due to infection control, they wouldn’t be able to leave the baby attached and put on you due to the risk of cross contamination from the surgeons, that’s why the baby is held up to remain in the sterile field until the cord is cut then passed to the midwife

Agreed with SmileyCloud. There's a vertical drape that acts as the screen that needs to remain sterile on our side. There's not an umbilical cord long enough that would allow baby to remain attached, be placed on you and keep the drape sterile.

Speaking of the screen, we can drop it to allow you see baby coming out if you like. Ask though, as not all trusts do that.

Hi, I'm very lucky that I'm having a gentle c section at Nottingham (have a google). This includes things such as delayed cord clamping and skin on skin in the theatre.

My wonderful consultant said these things would be standard unless the baby was in distress. However, I know of some trusts (Derby) who have brushed women off saying they "won't have time to mess around with things like that" which is quite frankly disgusting when all the evidence points to delayed cord clamping and skin to skin being beneficial to the baby, even in c sections.

Stay firm and present the evidence if they try and fob you off xx

I did exactly as @Dyra suggested, the drape was dropped and the surgeons held up my daughter and one of the incredible theatre team took a photo for us of that exact moment we saw her for the first time, they did a little but of delayed cord clamping so she didn’t get cold, she was dried and popped down my gown until about 5 minutes before they were finished, she was then popped in a cot and my partner wheeled her through to recovery

Exactly as @Dyra said in my trust as well.

EMCS and had delayed clamping, one minutes (I would have liked longer however apparently the placenta began 'delivering' on its own if that's the right term?) which I'm told is standard at my trust. So standard it hadn't been marked on my notes as being done and in my baby brained post birth state I was very upset about (not upset about my home water birth turning into an undiagnosed breech EMCS after 32 hours of early labour and waters having gone plus merconium, nope, delayed cord clamping ruined my birth plan 🤣). I'm requesting an ELCS this time.and will enquire about the possibility of a little longer.

Hi OP

I’m also having a meeting with the consultant next week to discuss an ELCS as my waters broke at 25 weeks (I’m 28 now though!!!). Prior to this I wanted delayed clamping and skin to skin so I’m in the same boat as you!

I know my baby being prem at 34 weeks (if he doesn’t come earlier) probably means I won’t get to have the delayed clamping as I’m expecting him to need immediate help etc but If you could report back that would be really helpful l! xx

I had an elective 6 months ago and it was standard practice where I had it too. Only if there is some sort of issue would they not have done it.

I had an EMCS and they still did the delayed cord clamping, I think they do it in most hospitals unless baby needs other attention I had it written in my birth plan beforehand though.

I can't quite remember how long they did it for as I was a bit all over the place on the pain meds but after they clamped I had some skin to skin and then baby and partner went out to the post birth ward and waited for me to get stitched up as it was cold in theatre.

I'm due again in June and will be having an ELCS in a different hospital, so will definitely be mentioning this in my pre-op and asking how long they will delay for.

Layladylay im a but disappointed to read that, im at derbt and am planning to ask my consultant at 30 weeks if there os a possibility of a gentle delivery and delayed cord clamping, im hoping they may be willing to listen to my request.