Is it really necessary to clamp the cord?

[minkajane]

I am planning a UC for my next child. I don't think we're going to do Lotus Birth (I think DH would be squigged out by the idea), but I'm definitely going to wait a while before cutting the cord. If you wait until it's limp and white, is it really necessary to clamp it? I know that if it's cut right away, it will ooze blood and whatnot, but will it do that after waiting a while?

[Chronic Chrissy]

I just relized I'm in the same boat. I probably would have clamped it anyways by default but would really prefer not to.

[AutumnAir]

I read somewhere recently that even after the cord stops pulsating it's still transferring some blood until after the placenta is born.

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

IIRC, we waited until after the placenta had been delivered to cut the cord, and did not clamp it.

However, this was almost 8 years ago, so my memory might not be the most reliable!

[Devaskyla]

There's a good fairly recent thread on this in the UC forum.

Basically, it seems like *most* of the time if the cord is white & limp, it's fine not to clamp. Some babies, it isn't fine. Ds3 was one of them. We had to quickly tie off his cord because it was bleeding. So, my feeling is, at least tie something on the baby's side of the cut.

[Peony]

I started a thread about this several weeks ago. I ended up using a piece of string just for a couple hours because the cord was bleeding some when we cut it.

[TzippityDoulah]

we waited til the placenta was birthed. it was not only done pulsing but you could see the only blood left in it was congealed. then we cut without clamping. we had a clamp in case the issue arose that we would need it, but we didn't. it was the best looking cord any of my kids had before. it bled the tiniest bit... like seriously a scab's worth. and it sealed itself. I think some cords take longer than others to get to this point - but usually you can tell by examining the cord before cutting.

if I had to cut it before this point for some emergency reason, I would obviously clamp it.

oh my did I love not having that clamp on it! it made diaper changing much more comfortable for him.

[Devaskyla]

we waited til the placenta was birthed. it was not only done pulsing but you could see the only blood left in it was congealed. then we cut without clamping.

Same. It was actually about an hour after the placenta came out. Ds3 still bled a lot.

[honeybee]

Ooooh... I just heard a great presentation this past weekend about this. The baby actually has sphincters that clamp the cord itself once baby has transferred to full adult circulation. Waiting until after placenta detaches should do it.