5 Amazing Facts About Umbilical Cords
We all know "cutting the cord" is what's done after birth - it's a symbolic practice in our culture, usually performed by an immediate family member, within one minute to one hour of the delivery of a new baby.
However, how much do we really know about this fascinating part of a baby's development? Here are five amazing facts about the umbilical cord.
1. It Develops Super Early!
What is the umbilical cord? It is the baby's "lifeline", attached to the placenta by the baby's belly button. It is responsible for carrying oxygenated blood to the baby, and carrying away deoxygenated blood. It keeps the baby safe and nourished throughout pregnancy. It forms and begins its duty at just five weeks of pregnancy!
2. It's Tough!
The umbilical cord is comprised of two arteries and a vein, encased in a thick, gelatinous substance called "Wharton's jelly". The jelly is tough and rubbery, which ensures that the delicate vessels are protected from being compressed during delivery or if the cord is knotted. Many first time parents are very surprised when cutting the cord, to find out that it takes some hand strength to sever - like sawing through a rubber hose.
3. They Can Vary in Size and Appearance!
An average umbilical cord size is about 20 inches long, and 3/4 inch around. However, just like babies, they can vary widely in size and appearance. Attend births long enough and you will see extra long cords, scarily short cords, knotted cords, and even wildly twisted and coiled cords - a variation called "hypercoiling".
4. There's a Whole Controversy on When to Cut Them!
There have been plenty of debates and opinions in the birthing world over the years regarding the optimal time to clamp and cut the umbilical cord. The typical routine used to include immediately placing a tight clamp on the cord after delivery, to stop the blood from pumping to the baby. Proponents of delayed cord clamping say that the baby should have at least one to three minutes after birth to allow his or her blood to finish pumping from the cord, increasing iron stores and improving outcomes - especially in premature babies. In fact, there is a growing body of evidence to support delayed cord clamping and many modern parents are choosing to add this request to their birth plans.
5. You Can Delay Clamping AND Bank Cord Blood at the Same Time!
It is a common misconception that you must choose one or the other when it comes to what to do with the cord blood. This has caused many parents to weigh the options of letting the baby receive the benefits of all of their cord blood, or banking it in case needed to fight disease later on. However, with the new technology and information from private cord blood banking companies, you can allow the cord clamping to be delayed, and still have plenty left over to collect for banking purposes.
Bonus: The Inside of an Umbilical Cord
As a certified placenta encapsulation specialist, the part of this service I most enjoy is teaching the parents about the anatomy of the placenta and how it works. Since the cord is included in the process, it is cleaned, sliced, and dehydrated along with the rest of the placenta. Many parents are surprised to see a "face" in the cord slices! Below you will see an illustration of the inside of an umbilical cord - the two arteries and one vein.
