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The umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother’s placenta and is cut after birth. Safety, sterility, and timing are important for a clean cut. Delaying cutting the cord until it stops pulsating has health benefits for the baby, but immediate cutting is necessary for babies requiring medical attention. The stump of the cord stays attached to the baby’s belly button for at least a week.
The umbilical cord is the thick, blood-rich cord that connects the baby to its mother. One end of the cord is attached to the baby’s belly button, and the other end is connected to the mother’s placenta, a kidney-shaped organ in the uterus that supplies the fetus with oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. Cutting the umbilical cord can be seen as a wonderfully symbolic gesture of the newborn’s new independent life outside the womb. Safety, sterility, and timing are the best tips for safely cutting an umbilical cord.
Safety comes first when cutting an umbilical cord. The cord is very thick, containing one or two arteries and a vein surrounded by a viscous gelatin. A very sharp cutting tool is needed for a clean cut that does not pull on the placenta or baby’s sensitive navel. After birth, an umbilical cord clamp is placed on either side of the incision to guide the scissors. To prevent infection, only sterile instruments are used for the procedure.
When the umbilical cord is cut, it affects the baby. Traditionally, doctors cut the umbilical cord almost immediately after birth. Studies show that delaying tightening and cutting the cord until the cord stops pulsating has several health benefits for the baby.
Cord blood contains stem cells, unspecialized cells that self-regenerate and develop into other cells. The delayed cut also delivers additional blood from the placenta to the baby. Blood supplies extra hemoglobin which helps prevent anemia, which is a common disorder among newborns.
Cutting an umbilical cord should never be delayed in cases of childhood suffering. Babies born prematurely, babies who have breathing problems, or babies who require immediate medical attention could suffer from medical inattentiveness if cutting the cord is delayed. The best advice for cutting an umbilical cord in such a case is to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. Babies requiring immediate medical attention need to be trimmed quickly to receive treatment.
For most births, the umbilical cord is cut in a convenient location, usually midway down the cord. After the baby is detached from the placenta, the doctor cuts the cord closest to the baby’s belly button. The stump of the umbilical cord usually stays attached to the newborn’s belly button for at least a week, until the stump dries up and falls off. The umbilical cord contains no nerves, so the baby does not feel pain. Parents are usually instructed to keep the area clean to avoid infection until the belly button has healed.
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