Early Cord Clamping Detrimental to Babies

Midwives have known for some time that when a baby is born, it is best to wait for the cord to first stop pulsating before the clamping and cutting. This cord blood from the placenta is not only rich with oxygen, but all sorts of vital nutrients, hormones and stem cells. I was glad to read in this recent article by Dr. Mercola that the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) have dropped the practice of early clamping from their guidelines. The article "Early Clamping Of The Umbilical Cord:Cutting the Ties That Bind" by Cory A. Mermer, details the advantages and disadvantages to early cutting of the cord. It seems that the main reason given among Obstetricians for early cord cutting is preventing maternal hemorrhage. The odd thing to me is, that your are taking blood from the newborn, to prevent the mother from the possibility of losing any blood! A study at the University of Liverpool has shown that when you allow the cord to continue freely pumping, 21% of the newborn's total oxygen enriched blood can be transfused in these crucial few minutes after birth. There is information that suggests that this complete blood supply is necessary for the lungs to fully function in their new dry capacity.
In my opinion, the benefits go beyond these that are so obviously crucial, in waiting to clamp, the baby and mother are given a moment to connect that is so often stolen from them in the hospital setting. In the hurried clamping, cutting, whisking away of the baby from the mother, something is lost that can never, even over time, be recovered. The subtleties that are at play amongst this natural process are not totally known. In managing women through the the entire journey of pregnancy, labor, and the birth of her child, the natural process is disrupted. As we know when interfering with any part of nature, the effect is rippled as if throwing a stone into a calm lake.
Dr. Michel Odent has written extensively on the precious time right after a child has been born and the interplay of the various hormones and the way in which they affect the bonding experience of the mother and child. In his article, "The First Hour Following Birth: Don’t Wake the Mother!" he details all of the ways in which the the first hour after the birth of a child affects both mama and, of course this precious new life. I feel that we as Mothers must do what we can to demand respect for this time and our brand new babies. It is next to impossible when you are in the moment on the table at the hospital. We must take time to prepare our birth plans and choose our care providers wisely. Midwives work for excellent outcomes, not only for the health and safety of the new baby, but the health of the new family as well.
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