How to cut the umbilical cord after childbirth? What are the consequences of cutting the umbilical cord late?

How to cut the umbilical cord when giving birth is a doctor's job. But many people say that cutting the umbilical cord two minutes late will have a great impact on the baby's life. Is this a rumor or the truth? What are the effects of cutting the umbilical cord late? Let's take a look~

How to cut the umbilical cord after childbirth

Hello, when cutting the umbilical cord, use a sterilized scalpel, tie it with thread two or three centimeters away from the navel, cut it off, and sprinkle anti-inflammatory powder. First, the fetus must be taken out of the mother's body smoothly. After the vital signs are stable, cut the umbilical cord in about 30 seconds, and then put the newborn on the delivery bed for disinfection, cleaning, weighing, and wrapping, and finally send it to the nursery. In the stage when the newborn is delivered from the mother's body but the umbilical cord is not cut, if the time interval is long, the newborn's body will dissipate heat in a very short time, which will be dangerous for babies with fast fetal movements. Therefore, it is very necessary to cut the umbilical cord within the prescribed 30 seconds after the baby leaves the mother's body and keep warm.

We remind you that giving birth at home is very risky for both mothers and children, so please go to a regular hospital for delivery. How to deal with the newborn's belly button? After the umbilical cord is cut, a wound is formed, which is an important portal for bacteria to invade the newborn's body. In mild cases, it can cause omphalitis, and in severe cases, it often leads to sepsis and death. Therefore, disinfection and care of the umbilical cord is very important.

When should the umbilical cord be cut? There are rules for this

my country's current "Midwifery Technical Management Standards" stipulates that after the fetus is delivered from the mother, if the vital signs are relatively stable, the umbilical cord can be cut about one minute after the baby is born.

The practice in developed countries abroad is: after the baby is born, he needs to be in contact with the mother immediately, and the time for cutting the umbilical cord can be appropriately extended, but this time generally does not exceed 2 minutes.

So, when should the umbilical cord be cut? Doctors have their own principles.

What are the consequences of late cutting of the umbilical cord?

The risks of late cord clamping are much more serious

The rumor holds that when a baby is born, it is out of the pressure environment in the mother's body and becomes a "negative pressure container". If the umbilical cord is cut 2 minutes later, it can absorb more iron and hematopoietic stem cells in the blood, reducing the baby's risk of anemia and leukemia. If the umbilical cord is cut immediately after the baby is born, this part of the blood will remain in the placenta and umbilical cord, which is a bit wasteful.

It’s really brilliant! The reasons seem to make sense and I almost believe them.

However, experts say that this statement is not scientific. Cutting the umbilical cord 2 minutes later will increase the risk of the child getting sick:

1. May cause brain damage in newborns

Before the baby is born, the environment in the uterus is kept at a constant temperature due to the presence of amniotic fluid.

At birth, the baby's body temperature begins to be maintained by itself as the amniotic fluid flows out and dissipates heat, but the baby's temperature regulation center is not fully developed at that time, so warming measures must be taken immediately. If the newborn is frozen in order to delay cutting the umbilical cord, long-term cold stimulation can cause brain damage.

2. It is easy to cause polycythemia and hyperbilirubinemia

If the umbilical cord is cut late, too much umbilical cord blood will enter the baby's body, which will not only put a greater burden on the heart, but may also cause polycythemia and hyperbilirubinemia.

Instead of worrying about the time of cutting the umbilical cord which is beyond your control, it is better to think about the care of your baby's belly button.

After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut off, leaving a length of about 1 cm, which is called the umbilical cord root.

If this part is not cared for properly, bacteria may invade and cause umbilical infection. In severe cases, it may lead to bleeding, exudation, pus, redness and swelling of the umbilical cord, etc.