The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the mother. It comprises three blood vessels: two arteries that carry waste from the baby back to the placenta and one vein that carries food and oxygen from the placenta to the baby.
So, whatever a mother eats directly affects the baby through umbilical cord blood. Earlier, doctors used to throw away this umbilical cord after a baby's birth, thinking that it was of no use. After years of research, it can be concluded that this umbilical cord blood contains the most precious cells that have regeneration capability.
This regeneration ability makes these cells suitable for treating life-threatening diseases for which no cure exists. Therefore, you can preserve the viability of these cells by preserving the umbilical cord. We have discussed the importance of the umbilical cord before and after clamping. However, did you know that the timing of cord blood clamping is also important? Let's learn more about this.
Types of Umbilical Cord Clamping
During the time of birth, the baby is still attached to the mother via the umbilical cord. Hence, the umbilical cord needs to be clamped to separate the baby from the placenta.
The timing of cutting the umbilical cord plays a critical role. Usually, the cord is clamped within the first 60 seconds of the birth. Nowadays, doctors prefer the delayed cord clamping concept. In this, the doctor clamps the cord when the pulsation has ceased or more than one minute has passed since the birth.
What is Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping refers to the process of waiting a little after delivery to clamp and cut the newborn’s umbilical cord.
The cord clamp puts a halt to the blood flow from the three blood vessels that travel from the placenta through the same umbilical cord. In this process, the cord is usually cut close to the baby's belly button.
The reason why doctors prefer delayed cord clamping is that it still allows the blood to flow from the placenta to the baby, and it can improve the amount of iron in the baby for upto six months from birth.
Moreover, the good part is that the newborn can still be placed immediately on the mother’s chest for skin-to-skin contact before cutting the cord.
Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping
Let's understand the benefits of delayed cord clamping:
- Reduces the Risk of Anemia
The clamping process helps increase the baby’s blood volume and iron. Iron is often poorly transferred to breast milk. Hence, delayed clamping helps prevent anemia by ensuring the baby receives a higher volume of blood from the placenta.
- Beneficial for Preterm Babies
Premature babies are often at risk for serious health problems. An extra boost of healthy blood from the umbilical cord can help lower such risks. Delayed cord clamping in preterm babies also helps decrease the number of needed blood transfusions.
- Safe Procedure
Cord clamping can take place after the placenta is removed from the mother’s uterus. It means there is no added risk to the mother and the baby. So, the benefits of delayed cord clamping can be achieved even during a cesarean delivery.
Final Thoughts
Delayed cord clamping is one such option that also ensures a future healthy life for the baby. In fact, even WHO recommends delayed cord clamping for better maternal and infant health and nutrition outcomes.
After the umbilical cord is clamped, you can preserve and store the cord blood for a better future. Stem cell banking facilities, like Cryoviva, extract the stem cells from the cord blood, improve its viability, and store it in case your child requires stem cell therapy to fight severe diseases. Learn how Cryoviva can help you with umbilical cord preservation.