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ACOG Released a New Opinion on Delayed Cord Clamping

For decades, the prevailing viewpoint among healthcare practitioners was that it was best to cut the umbilical cord within 15 to 20 seconds after a baby was born. A new opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changes their previous recommendations regarding delayed umbilical cord clamping after birth. The umbilical cord functions as a lifeline between mother and baby. The baby receives oxygen rich blood from his or her mother through the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is also the baby’s way of removing carbon dioxide and waste products. For decades, health practitioners would clamp the umbilical cord, … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review April 9-20

In the Pregnancy Blog, I try to cover a variety of topics related to all aspects of pregnancy, conception, birth and the post partum period. The review is a great place to see all the recent blogs in one place. Do You Wear Your Seatbelt? Many pregnant women don’t buckle up, usually due to a fear the seatbelt could injure the baby in the event of an accident. However, wearing a seatbelt can save the lives of both you and your baby. Learn how to wear it correctly in this blog. If you are trying to get pregnant or have … Continue reading →

When Should the Umbilical Cord Be Cut?

One procedure more parents are considering as part of the birth plan is when to cut the umbilical cord. Should the cord be cut just after the birth? Should you wait until it stops pulsating to cut it? There are two completely different opinions on when to cut the umbilical cord. Some doctors believe the cord should be cut immediately after birth and not later than 30 seconds after the baby is born. This is largely due to a belief that delayed cord cutting can cause breathing difficulties in the new baby. Other doctors and most midwives are advocates of … Continue reading →

Caring for the Umbilical Stump

After your baby is born and while you are still in the delivery room, the doctor will cut the umbilical cord. Once the cord has been removed, the baby will still have a cord stump that needs to be cared for. Now, bear in mind that the cord stump will gradually turn black in just a few days following the birth and it will fall off sometime between the first and fourth weeks of life. You need to pay particular care of this area of the body to hasten the healing process. You can do this by keep the area … Continue reading →

What If You Don’t Make It To The Hospital?

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I think every pregnant woman thinks about the possibility of going through an emergency birth – having the baby before she arrives at the hospital, or before her doctor arrives at her house if she is having a home birth. Images of women giving birth in taxi cabs come to mind, or, if you’ve ever seen the show “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” images of women giving birth in their bathtubs. It sounds so scary, then again, why should it be? I often wonder why something so common and so natural is so frightening and mysterious to most of … Continue reading →

Including Children in Home Births

One reason some women choose to give birth at home is the ability to have other family members present. This includes the baby’s older siblings. These women tend to view birth as an experience to be shared by the whole family. While siblings can be present at some hospital births, it is easier to accommodate them at a home birth. Your older children may feel more comfortable attending a birth at home. The hospital can seem like a big, scary place to children. They feel comfortable and safe in their homes, so it makes sense that they would feel more … Continue reading →