The Process of Cutting the Umbilical Cord
Once the baby is born and delayed cord clamping, if desired by the mother, has been conducted, the umbilical cord becomes unnecessary. At this point, a healthcare professional will carefully clamp the cord to halt the flow of blood between the baby and the placenta. Subsequently, they will proceed to cut the cord, resulting in a remaining short stump. Over the course of the following week, this stump gradually changes color from yellow or green to brown and finally black as it dries up. Eventually, the dried stump will naturally detach from the baby’s belly.
Does Cutting the Umbilical Cord Hurt the Baby?
One common concern among parents is whether cutting the umbilical cord hurts the baby. Rest assured, cutting the umbilical cord is a painless procedure for the baby. This is because there are no nerves in the umbilical cord, so the baby does not feel any pain during this process.
The procedure itself is relatively simple. Typically, two clamps are applied to the umbilical cord: one about two inches away from the baby’s belly button, and the second clamp about two inches away from the first. The cord is then carefully cut between these two clamps. In most cases, it is the doctor or midwife who performs this task. However, there are instances where the mother, partner, or support person may be given the opportunity to cut the cord.