As expectant parents, you're likely exploring various aspects of childbirth, and one topic gaining significant attention is delayed cord clamping (commonly referenced online by the acronym DCC). In this blog post, we'll delve into the benefits of delayed cord clamping, explore any potential drawbacks, address common questions related to its duration in a hospital setting, its feasibility during C-section deliveries, and its compatibility with cord blood and tissue banking.
The Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping:
Delayed cord clamping, the practice of waiting to cut the umbilical cord after the baby is born, offers several noteworthy advantages:
1. Optimal Blood Transfer:
Allowing the newly born baby’s umbilical cord to remain intact for an extended period enables a more complete transfer of blood from the baby’s placenta to the newborn baby. This ensures that your baby receives essential nutrients and oxygen, supporting a healthier start.
2. Increased Iron Levels:
Research suggests that delayed cord clamping contributes to higher iron levels in the infant, which is crucial for proper brain development and overall well-being.
3. Enhanced Immune System Function:
The additional blood received during delayed cord clamping contains immune-boosting cells, providing the baby with added protection against infections and illnesses.
4. Reduced Risk of Anemia:
By increasing the baby's iron stores, delayed cord clamping / DCC helps reduce the risk of anemia in the first few months of life.
Potential Cons of Delayed Cord Clamping:
While the benefits of DCC are substantial, it's essential to consider potential drawbacks:
1. Jaundice Risk:
Some studies suggest a slightly increased risk of jaundice with delayed cord clamping. However, this risk is generally considered minimal and can be managed with appropriate monitoring.
2. Need for Resuscitation:
In certain medical situations, immediate cord clamping may be necessary if the baby requires resuscitation. The decision to delay clamping should be made based on the infant's health and medical circumstances. (See link here to the National Institute of Health that counters this caution “Making the Argument for Intact Cord Resuscitation”)
Duration of Delayed Cord Clamping in the Hospital:
The optimal duration for delayed cord clamping varies, depending on which source/research study you reference, but health organizations recommend waiting at least one to three minutes after birth.
This is very different from the home birth environment with a licensed midwife, where it is generally recommended to wait to clamp until the cord has stopped pulsating and is no longer firm, and is white to the eye, ranging anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and this practice popularized the phrase “wait for white” indicating to birthing couples that the right amount of time to delay clamping your baby’s umbilical cord is until the cord is wobbly and completely white as seen in the photo below. See link here that discusses ideal timing for clamping cords.
“Wait For White”
Although, the in-hospital recommendation of 1 to 3 minutes of delayed cord clamping is said to allow for sufficient blood transfer while ensuring the baby receives the benefits associated with delayed cord clamping / DCC.
Delayed Cord Clamping during C-Section Deliveries:
The number one most asked question by my clients when they are planning to have a c-section is “can I do delayed cord clamping if I am having a c-section?”
Alternately, some clients immediately state, “but I can’t do delayed cord clamping because I am havivng a c-section.”
However! Please note that, yes, delayed cord clamping is possible during C-section deliveries. While the process may require some adjustments, healthcare providers can still implement delayed cord clamping / DCC in many cases, providing the same benefits as in vaginal deliveries.
Many of my C-Section Birth Photography and Doula clients delivering at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, West Boca Medical Center, HCA Florida Northwest Hospital and Broward Health Coral Springs ask whether their partner/spouse can still clamp (cut) their baby's umbilical cord if they have a c-section delivery or if the OBGYN has to do it instead in that case?
In the case of a C-section delivery, the procedure typically involves the obstetrician or surgeon clamping the baby's umbilical cord. Due to the sterile nature of the operating room and the precision required during a cesarean section, the role of cord clamping is generally undertaken by the medical professionals present.
However, many hospitals and healthcare providers recognize the significance of involving the baby’s other parent (often the father) in these special moments.
While the immediate cord clamping during a C-section is typically performed by the obstetrician, labor and delivery nurses often facilitate the inclusion of fathers in post-birth rituals.
In certain situations, after the baby has been assessed by the neonatologist at the baby warmer, the labor and delivery nurse may hand the umbilical cord clamping scissor to the father to participate in cutting the cord, fostering a meaningful and inclusive experience for both parents despite the unique circumstances of a C-section delivery.
Communication with the healthcare team before delivery can help clarify and establish preferences for parental involvement in these precious moments.
Delayed Cord Clamping and Cord Blood/Tissue Banking:
So this is an area that carries with it a bit of unclarity.
Many times, what I actually hear vs what I see on the internet varies quite a bit with regards to delayed cord clamping when you are doing cord blood or cord tissue banking.
While I see the internet boasting that yes indeed it is possible to do delayed cord clamping alongside of cord blood and tissue banking, and that many cord blood banks are supportive of delayed cord camping / DCC and even offer methods to collect the cord blood and tissue after delayed clamping, it is important for me to be transparent when I say that I do not see that often when I am at work.
I usually will hear it is not possible and you have to choose one over the other. Or the delayed cord clamping goes from the recommended 1 to 3 minutes down to 30 to 45 seconds.
It is recommended that you communicate your preferences with your healthcare team and the cord blood bank to facilitate a smooth process, but I will say that remaining flexible is vital here. If your medical care provider (OBGYN or Midwife) must cut your baby’s umbilical cord earlier due to a variety of reasons discussed earlier, you may completely lose the ability to have delayed cord clamping, though there may still be the possibility to do cord blood and / or cord tissue banking. I think what is helpful is to make a decision beforehand, if in the moment both are not possible, which is your priority?
Also, while this blog post was specifically geared at delayed cord clamping, I urge you to do equal research from research studies at medical universities on cord blood and cord tissue banking, so that you can make an informed decision about whether that is the right choice for your family to invest in, especially if there is a chance that in the moment, given that birth is unpredictable and anything can happen, it may very well come down to making a choice between allowing your baby to receive more of his or her blood via delayed cord clamping, or for that cord blood and tissue to go to the cord blood bank.
Conclusion:
In the journey towards welcoming your little one, understanding the nuances of delayed cord clamping is a valuable step. Balancing the benefits and potential considerations allows you to make informed decisions in collaboration with your healthcare team. Whether opting for delayed cord clamping during a vaginal birth, a C-section, or in conjunction with cord blood and tissue banking, the key is open communication and a shared commitment to the health and well-being of both you and your newborn.
As a gentle reminder, I do not provide and do not promise any medical advice nor medical assistance and this is information easily accessible on google to anyone who searches. Any information written on my blog as a non-professional and no-medical advice capacity and assumes no responsibility for the choices a person makes with regards to their pregnancy, labor, birth, baby and/or post partum.
