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Cord burning

post #1 of 13
11/17/09 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
http://www.clareloprinzi.com/cordburning.html

Anyone heard of, or done, this? I found this article today and am very interested to hear more from anyone who is familiar with this practice. I have an appt on Thurs with my mw and plan to ask her then if she has heard of it.

Basically, instead of clamping and cutting the cord, you burn it with a small flame til it separates and cauterizes the end.

Thanks!!
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post #2 of 13
11/17/09 at 9:01pm
I've never heard of that before. That's really interesting. I wonder if it always falls off that much faster than with clamping? I wonder if it would work just as well to clamp and cut and then cauterize the end (for time's sake).
post #3 of 13
11/17/09 at 11:28pm
This is the first time I have heard of that too.
post #4 of 13
11/18/09 at 1:04am
I have seen other photo sets of burning the cord off- some in central America maybe- any way it is a clean way to do it especially with candles and not some sort of dung fire - very low likelyhood/ chance for infection to develop- something to keep in mind in low resource areas- instead of clamps/ties and blades
post #5 of 13
11/18/09 at 5:01am
It's one of the more hygenic traditional ways of dealing with the cord. I haven't done it, but Midwifery Today did a nice article on traditional cord treatment. It separates, cauterizes and leaves the "open" end as close to sterile as possible in many situations. I don't see why cauterizing after cutting wouldn't have the same affect. Anyone?
post #6 of 13
11/18/09 at 5:22am
post #7 of 13
11/18/09 at 1:44pm
I've heard about this. Something to consider. I'm going to ask my midwife about it.
post #8 of 13
11/18/09 at 3:21pm
That's a nice way of handling the cord. Definitely worth doing more research into.
post #9 of 13
11/18/09 at 3:58pm
I was just reading about this on an MDC mama's blog. http://missionarymidwifemama.blogspo...d-burning.html
post #10 of 13
11/20/09 at 11:40am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone! I forgot to ask my mw yesterday at my appt, but I do have quite a lot of time left. Clamping and cutting was quite easy, but this seems like a really nice safe alternative. I'm going to do more googling.
post #11 of 13
11/21/09 at 2:55am
I wouldn't choose it first. I think that it's a sterile option, when you're in unexpected circumstances.

Also, I assume it must have a religious/spiritual purpose as well.
The combination of fire magic, with a dislike of using metal, and etc.
I imagine it has almost ceremonial purposes.

I would be more interested, if I could explore that avenue of it. But as it stands now, I would just cut it, if I didn't lotus.
post #12 of 13
11/22/09 at 9:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yvaine Undomiel View Post
Also, I assume it must have a religious/spiritual purpose as well.
The combination of fire magic, with a dislike of using metal, and etc.
I imagine it has almost ceremonial purposes.
That's an interesting point. I'd be really interested in knowing more about that.
post #13 of 13
11/22/09 at 10:16pm
I've done this for several families. It is a very nice tradition and brings a bit of ritual into the cord seperation. It is very gentle, takes about 10-15 minutes, doesn't smell bad, and offers a very sweet time for the family to honor the seperation of baby from placenta. I typically do this about 1 1/2 to 2 hours after the delivery of the placenta and use beeswax candles. I also make sure that the baby is well protected from the flame and hot wax by swaddeling it in some blankets. Sometimes the cord will pop and blow out the candles which to me shows the amazing energy that is in the umbilical cord. Benefits of this are bringing lost heat back to the baby and giving the baby the life force left in the placenta. Yes and it cauterizing the cord which can be a very important and beneficial piece for women working with mothers in third world. NO clamp, band of string is needed after this is done. In pictures of this amazing tradition you can see how the families honor this time and they are also quite warming to the soul.

I have both Christian and non-Christian families choose this method of cord seperation. It doesn't seem to be an issue for anyone. Some people just want to do it and others do not. I personally love it!

I pack my birth instruments and my suture instruments seperately. It is nice how I don't have to open birth instruments for families choosing this tradition.