There Are No Scissors on the Savannah

The Importance of Delayed Cord Clamping

During a pregnancy, the mother and fetus have separate blood systems. The fetus's nutrient supply and gas exchange occur in the placenta, where the fetal blood absorbs nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood. At the same time, waste products are transferred from the fetal blood to the mother's blood, which then handles the cleansing. The fetus is connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord, which transports blood to and from the fetus and the placenta. It is easy to understand that the baby needs as much as possible of all the components supplied from the placenta via the umbilical cord and that it is therefore completely unnatural to cut the umbilical cord immediately after birth. Fortunately, this is now done less often.

Nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood are transported from the placenta via the umbilical cord to the fetal blood. Waste products from the fetus's metabolism are transported in the opposite direction, back to the placenta and the mother's blood. In addition to nutrients and oxygen, a host of other vital substances are also transferred from the mother. These are primarily stem cells, hormones, antibodies, and other immune cells, all of which are important for the baby. After delivery, the blood remaining in the placenta and umbilical cord continues to be transported to the baby for several minutes. Waiting to cut the umbilical cord therefore gives the baby an important blood transfusion, known as a placental transfusion, with all the important substances from the placenta, which also provides an increased blood volume, better oxygenation, and facilitates the transition to independent breathing and life outside the womb.

Previously, the general recommendation was to cut the umbilical cord immediately after delivery to streamline monitoring and other procedures for the baby after birth. Nowadays, the WHO recommends waiting at least one minute before the umbilical cord is clamped. The guidelines in Sweden for full-term, healthy babies are to wait until the umbilical cord has turned pale and is empty of blood. For babies born by cesarean section, one should wait one minute, as well as for babies born before week 35, regardless of whether they need stabilization or not. Babies who need acute cardiopulmonary resuscitation have their cords clamped immediately to get help quickly.

Premature babies are actually in even greater need of the extra boost of blood that delayed cord clamping provides, but it can simultaneously make it more difficult to provide respiratory assistance and other aid, which is why one dares not wait.

Delayed cord clamping has been shown to provide many health benefits, including improved blood circulation and long-term benefits such as extra stem cells. Research shows that delayed cord clamping reduces the risk of infant mortality and also provides benefits for premature babies.

For animals that give birth naturally, such as cloven-hoofed and hoofed animals, the umbilical cord breaks naturally when the mother or the young stands up after birth. Provided the mother is left in peace and quiet during birth, this gives the young time to receive the important blood transfusion from the placenta. Predators, such as canids and felines, chew off the umbilical cord themselves and eat the afterbirth to get nutrients and hormones.