Delayed cord clamping... positioning?

[jessjgh1]

Is there any reason that the baby needs to be kept lower than the abdomen till the cord is clamped??? I guess I've been under the impression that the cord should be left pulsing till it stops, and then cut..... but that the baby can also immediatly be brought up to the mother... and even up to the breast.

However, I may find out that my midwife recommends keeping the baby below the belly till after the cord is clamped.

I'm meeting with her this week, I just want to collect info on this before the appointment.

I know it can take a long time for the cord to stop pulsing and the one thing that I want is to be immediatly able to hold my baby. With my son, the cord was short and wrapped around his legs and they only brought him up to my belly. He tried to crawl up to me... so I was devastated when they took him away before I could really hold him and see him and nurse him.

Of course, there was no reason to take him away, and I should have TOLD them that, but I was not able to express my wishes (which is why I am using a different hospital, midwife, and have a doula).

Thanks,

Jessica

[sea_joy]

Length of cord.

You just don't want to tug ont he cord and yank the placenta free before it's ready. I brought my baby up a little too high and the midwife just scootched her down a little. The cord didn't take too long to stop pulsing in my experience, just a minute or two. Since the baby is against your body being kept warm and happy it is nt at all long to wait in "labortime". After you have a baby you don't want to push it. When people say thier babies nursed "immediately" that ususally means within 5 min or so because the baby came out hungry. My girl wasn't interested in eating for about 15-20 min. Some are longer than that. You probably wont feel isolated from the baby waiting a min. for the cord to stop pulsing.

[bryonyvaughn]

Originally Posted by jessjgh1

Is there any reason that the baby needs to be kept lower than the abdomen till the cord is clamped???

The thought is the "gravity assist" allows a greater portion of the placental blood to make it into the baby.

However, I may find out that my midwife recommends keeping the baby below the belly till after the cord is clamped.

I know it can take a long time for the cord to stop pulsing and the one thing that I want is to be immediatly able to hold my baby.

If your MW is a really stickler about this, you could always lay down on the bed and snuggle/nurse your baby on your side.

~BV

[jessjgh1]

Thanks, I just wanted to ask, now I feel like I can phrase it right for the midwife- and have some options...

BTW, I understand the waiting for a few minutes, and then nursing.... but I wasn't given that chance with my son. After the cord was cut they took him away... and he had just started to use his arms and crawl up my belly.

I guess I'm more senstivie about the breastfeeding becase we HAD so many problems... and it was so frustrating to vividly remember him crawling up to me and then NOT being able to try to nurse then (I think it was probably 30 minutes of so later when I finally got him 'back'). It may have had nothing to do with anything, but he seemed so alert then.... and less alert later.

Since I had intended a natural birth and ended up with an epidural and pitocin after not progressing (and i had PIH) it may have had a lot to do with that too.

Jessica

[sea_joy]

Originally Posted by jessjgh1

BTW, I understand the waiting for a few minutes, and then nursing.... but I wasn't given that chance with my son. After the cord was cut they took him away... and he had just started to use his arms and crawl up my belly.

So sorry about that, I'm sure everything will go awesome this time. One thing I keep in mind about my birth (which went fantastically well, yet there are things I would change) is that I experienced those less desirable things just this once and I can do better this time, I know what to expect, what to do and how to inform the people around me what I want this time.

[Collinsky]

Originally Posted by jessjgh1

Is there any reason that the baby needs to be kept lower than the abdomen till the cord is clamped??? I guess I've been under the impression that the cord should be left pulsing till it stops, and then cut..... but that the baby can also immediatly be brought up to the mother... and even up to the breast.

I put my babies immediately to the breast, while they are still attached by the cord to the placenta. I am careful not to tug on the cord until the placenta detaches naturally, but the cords have so far been long enough that there was no problem.

Even if the cord does not allow the baby to be brought to your breast, it should be fine for you to be able to cradle him next to your skin while he makes the transition from relying on the placenta to life outside the womb. Hopefully you can discuss this with the midwives, and let them know that you want to cooperate with their policies, but that this is something that is very important to you and you would like to know what will work for everyone. Like a pp suggested, perhaps lying with your baby would be acceptable?