physiology of cord closure

[PMolly]

DH and I have been discussing cord clamping and natural cord closure lately. His biology degree mind is having a hard time understanding how delayed cord clamping could mean more blood in the baby's body. He keeps saying that each time some comes in, more would go out. I've found lot's of great articles on the benefits of delaying cord clamping, but nothing that actually explains the physiological process of how the cord would naturally close off, thus enabling baby to have a higher volume of blood in their body. I just read the articles and think, that's cool that this can make a difference. He wants to know HOW it HAPPENS. So....links?

[jeninejessica]

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[ee_lime]

I can't remember where I read it, but I did read that the vessels leaving baby close up first....then the incoming. I will try to remember where I read it, I am not sure how reliable the source was.

[queenjulie]

I've always wondered that--I've never seen any reliable evidence that delayed cord clamping actually does anything, just anecdotes and websites. I actually read in a novel written by a doctor that cutting the cord stimulates infants to breathe, but because it was a novel, even if it was a well-researched one, I have no idea if that's true.

[NatureMama3]

here are some links on the issue (with studies cited, etc). Maybe they will help him understand?

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/hastyclamping.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbilical_vein

Closure of the umbilical vein usually occurs after the umbilical arteries have closed. This prolongs the communication between the placenta and fetal heart, allowing for a sort of autotransfusion of remaining blood from the placenta to the fetus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbilical_artery

http://fn.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/93/1/F77?rss=1

[sweetsadie77]

Originally Posted by queenjulie

I've always wondered that--I've never seen any reliable evidence that delayed cord clamping actually does anything, just anecdotes and websites. I actually read in a novel written by a doctor that cutting the cord stimulates infants to breathe, but because it was a novel, even if it was a well-researched one, I have no idea if that's true.

Link to abstract for systematic review of early versus late clamping that found that delayed clord clamping reduces risk of anemia.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content...urcetype=HWCIT

[Kidzaplenty]

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[queenjulie]

Originally Posted by sweetsadie77

Link to abstract for systematic review of early versus late clamping that found that delayed clord clamping reduces risk of anemia.

Thanks for posting that! The link isn't working, but I was able to search for "umbilical cord clamping" on the JAMA site and found it. It does show a small benefit in terms of increased blood volume and hematocrit in the first day or two of life, and the lesser chance of anemia you mentioned, but it looks like any variation between early- and late-clamped babies disappears within a month of birth at the longest (it sounded like most of the findings showed no difference within just a few days, but some studies didn't check again for a month or two).

[MommaHeather]

oxygen / umbilical cord

(Referred Q to here from another board, ty!)

I am reading the Book Magical Child by Joseph Chilton Pearce. I just finished reading a part about how children suffer when the umbilical cord is cut too soon. He says it takes babies about 8 minutes, because the baby needs time to adjust their lungs, and are not getting oxygen to their brain. That is why doctors spank babies, to make them cry so their lungs start working. He states that babies that had their umbilical cord cut too early suffer from lesions on their brain months and years later. (Study was done on monkeys)


So, I'm not sure about all the vessels and stuff... but Joseph talks about the oxygen.

If anyone else has further information on this aspect... I'm open to hearing thoughts / experiences / information

Also.. I found this website relating to cord clamping and it being linked to autism, etc
http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/pr.../umbilical.htm

[mwherbs]

this site is a PDF on neonatal transition

www.elvovemd.com/files/LateCordClamping2.pdf

[sweetsadie77]

Originally Posted by queenjulie

Thanks for posting that! The link isn't working, but I was able to search for "umbilical cord clamping" on the JAMA site and found it. It does show a small benefit in terms of increased blood volume and hematocrit in the first day or two of life, and the lesser chance of anemia you mentioned, but it looks like any variation between early- and late-clamped babies disappears within a month of birth at the longest (it sounded like most of the findings showed no difference within just a few days, but some studies didn't check again for a month or two).

Oops, I think I fixed the link, thanks.

Here's another abstact, referenced in Eileen Hutton's meta analysis, for a RCT with 476 participants that shows clinically significant reduction of anemia and improvement of iron stores for up to six months of age (when iron rich foods may be introduced).

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...ccc9868bf5e90d

[MommaHeather]

does anyone know how long one should wait to clamp the cord?

[Kidzaplenty]

I don't think there is a specific "time" but more of an event that we wait for. We wait until the cord is empty of blood and white. Then we cut it. I have never really thought of a time frame.

[MommaHeather]

awesome! ty!

[queenjulie]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

I don't think there is a specific "time" but more of an event that we wait for. We wait until the cord is empty of blood and white. Then we cut it. I have never really thought of a time frame.

Yeah that--I think they generally wait until the cord stops pulsating. However, the original link Sadie posted was an analysis of studies in which the doctors waited 2 minutes, which seems quite quick to me! Apparently it doesn't take very long, which may make it easier for your OB to deal with if he or she thinks you should clamp immediately.

(Obviously, if you're storing your cord blood, you have to clamp immediately, but that's a whole other issue.)

[hapersmion]

Originally Posted by queenjulie

(Obviously, if you're storing your cord blood, you have to clamp immediately, but that's a whole other issue.)

This gets discussed a lot, but I just wanted to note that it wasn't that way for me. I think the consensus among most of the posters on MDC is that sometimes you can get enough blood if you wait, sometimes you can't, so the decision on when to cut depends on why you're collecting the blood. We waited and still got enough blood to donate.