Quick Cord Clamp May Harm Newborns

news you may not knowIt's Cold Out Here...

Welcome to the world!

It's tough being a brand new little guy or gal. One minute you're snug and secure in a warm and quiet womb, and then, ala Emeril Lagasse, Bam! It's out into the cold, harsh light of day. Just as you're trying to make sense of it all, a quick-fingered doctor rushes in and snips away your last link to dear old mom...

The practice of quickly cutting the umbilical cord is being questioned in a new study. Dr. Andrew Weeks, of the University of Liverpool, studied the impact of cord clamping on newborn infants.

Though the practice of clamping the cord within the first minute has no impact on the mother, Dr. Weeks believes the newborn suffers. The practice of quick cord clamping varies widely in Europe, from 17% in Denmark to 90% in France.

But, according to Dr. Weeks, cutting the cord too quickly deprives the newborn of oxygen rich blood. The newborn, while still tethered to mom, receives a vital transfusion of blood within the first minute following birth. The primary benefit is an increase in iron, particularly helpful in regions of the world suffering from anemia.

The solution is, for the most part, rather simple. Take a deep breath and wait a minute. As a matter of fact, Dr. Weeks recommends waiting a full three minutes in normal deliveries, and one minute in deliveries in which the newborn needs immediate intervention or support.

Children grow up so quickly - let's be patient and give them a last minute or two with mom...

To read more about the study, see this from ScienceDaily. To read more about caring for your newborn, see this from iVillage.