Scissors For Unassisted Childbirth

[WinterPrego]

I'm wondering what type of scissors are best for cutting the umbilical cord? I've heard several people mention Hemostats, but what type would be best? I know there are quite a few different types of them. Or would I just be better off buying a simple pair of sewing or kitchen scissors? What was your choice and why?

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

I'm wondering what type of scissors are best for cutting the umbilical cord? I've heard several people mention Hemostats, but what type would be best? I know there are quite a few different types of them. Or would I just be better off buying a simple pair of sewing or kitchen scissors? What was your choice and why?

I bought some blunt scissors from inhishands and have used those since number 5.

[WinterPrego]

Thank you! I have looked at that website before, and every thing seemed very well priced.

[dayiscoming2006]

I had the scissors from In His Hands and they were very dull and short. Seemed like it would make cutting the cord more difficult?

I didn't end up using them nor do I think I would have tried.

I've heard there are some available at other birth supply sites that are better. Many like the ones with the blunt tip. Otherwise, get some metal household scissors and sterilize them before the birth. 

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

I had the scissors from In His Hands and they were very dull and short. Seemed like it would make cutting the cord more difficult?

I didn't end up using them nor do I think I would have tried.

I've heard there are some available at other birth supply sites that are better. Many like the ones with the blunt tip. Otherwise, get some metal household scissors and sterilize them before the birth. 

No problem cutting w/ them here, used them 6 times.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

I had the scissors from In His Hands and they were very dull and short. Seemed like it would make cutting the cord more difficult?

I didn't end up using them nor do I think I would have tried.

I've heard there are some available at other birth supply sites that are better. Many like the ones with the blunt tip. Otherwise, get some metal household scissors and sterilize them before the birth. 

No problem cutting w/ them here, used them 6 times.

Maybe I got a bad pair or something cuz they were super dull. Barely cut paper. Or maybe they changed the pair they carried? I bought mine in 2008. You probably bought yours way before that. I do remember others on this site complaining about them around the time I bought mine too.
 

[WinterPrego]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

I had the scissors from In His Hands and they were very dull and short. Seemed like it would make cutting the cord more difficult?

I didn't end up using them nor do I think I would have tried.

I've heard there are some available at other birth supply sites that are better. Many like the ones with the blunt tip. Otherwise, get some metal household scissors and sterilize them before the birth. 

Maybe I got a bad pair or something cuz they were super dull. Barely cut paper. Or maybe they changed the pair they carried? I bought mine in 2008. You probably bought yours way before that. I do remember others on this site complaining about them around the time I bought mine too.
 

Hmmm, thanks. It's nice to have good and bad reviews, to make a better choice. These are the ones I was looking at... anyone used them before?

http://inhishands.com/Umbilical-Scissors.580

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by WinterPrego 

Hmmm, thanks. It's nice to have good and bad reviews, to make a better choice. These are the ones I was looking at... anyone used them before?

http://inhishands.com/Umbilical-Scissors.580

I haven't used those but those look a lot better than the ones I had purchased from them. I think those should work.
 

[WinterPrego]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

I haven't used those but those look a lot better than the ones I had purchased from them. I think those should work.
 

Okay, thank you. :)

[caritasrainbow]

I've never given that much thought to scissors. I've used whichever pair was handy and sharp and boiled them first.
~ rain
DS1 5/93, DD 1/00 uc, DS2 8/02 uc, DS3 4/10 uc, #5 due 1/11

[lwilson4]

We burned the cord with two beeswax candles. It takes a while (after the cord separates keep burning the baby's side until no fluids come out when squeezed), but is a great way to separate baby and placenta. Choose a thin part of the cord and hold in the flame. If there are still gases present in the cord, you may hear a loud pop that sometimes puts the candles out; the longer you wait, the less likely this is to happen. Cover baby and hold a bowl under the candles to catch melting wax. Some say that this restores the baby's chi and heat lost in birth. 

Some people choose to check the cord to be certain there are 3 vessels, if you do this you can simply cut the tip of the placenta side after it separates to see the vessels.

[WinterPrego]

Originally Posted by lwilson4 

We burned the cord with two beeswax candles. It takes a while (after the cord separates keep burning the baby's side until no fluids come out when squeezed), but is a great way to separate baby and placenta. Choose a thin part of the cord and hold in the flame. If there are still gases present in the cord, you may hear a loud pop that sometimes puts the candles out; the longer you wait, the less likely this is to happen. Cover baby and hold a bowl under the candles to catch melting wax. Some say that this restores the baby's chi and heat lost in birth. 

Some people choose to check the cord to be certain there are 3 vessels, if you do this you can simply cut the tip of the placenta side after it separates to see the vessels.

I have never heard of burning the cord before, but is very interesting! Especially about the baby's chi and heat. What made you guys want to burn the cord?

Also, great tip about checking the cords vessels! I was wondering where to cut or how long to keep the cord to check. Thanks  :)

[Rainystar66]

I have always just used kitchen sissors, I usually buy a fresh set with each birth to make sure they're nice and sharp, and give them a boil and stick them in a bag to have them ready in my birth box...

[Serenyd]

I got cord scissors off ebay, super-cheap and worked great. 

[Logan]

I'm wondering is there a specific reason you need a 'special' type of scissors? I still have the scissors from my last birth. My midwife said "here you keep these" Maybe she knew I would need them!  They usually just throw them away, but they are still perfectly fine after one use, they're metal like any other pair. But they are pretty blunt, is there a reason for this? They have seemed hard to get the cord cut and I wonder if it isn't easier just to use regular scissors which are sharper? Just curious...  

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by Logan 

I'm wondering is there a specific reason you need a 'special' type of scissors? I still have the scissors from my last birth. My midwife said "here you keep these" Maybe she knew I would need them!  They usually just throw them away, but they are still perfectly fine after one use, they're metal like any other pair. But they are pretty blunt, is there a reason for this? They have seemed hard to get the cord cut and I wonder if it isn't easier just to use regular scissors which are sharper? Just curious...  

Any scissors will work. Blunt is preferred b/c they are less likely to accidentally cut baby if they squirm is my guess.

[Logan]

Ah okay, Thanks.  I just had a look at the inhishands ones and they are MUCH nicer than the ones I have so I will definitely be ordering those.... along with a lot of the other awesome birth supplies they sell 

[dayiscoming2006]

I just got the cord scissors from in his hands and they look nice. They are much smaller than I imagined, but I guess cords aren't exactly gigantic. :)