New birthing trend, don't cut the cord

New trend keeps parents from cutting the cord. (Getty Images)

New parents could be overcome being careful of the newborn, only one birth consultant thinks one method to help parents cope is as simple as literally not cutting the cord.

Mary Ceallaigh, a birth consultant and doula from Austin, Texas, is preaching the advantages of "umbilical nonseverance" that involves letting the umbilical cord disappear naturally after birth. Ceallaigh, 47, states the practice can also be known as getting a "lotus birth" might help moms and babies bond.

"It's a trend getting good notice in western culture particularly among naturally inclined people," stated Ceallaigh. "[It's] just like a different way to create optimal origins for babies."

As the practice may appear just like a new-age remedy gone haywire, Ceallaigh states the ritual really originates from traditional Balinese practices. Parents look after the newborn, whilst carrying the newborn's attached placenta.

"Many people they do not realize that the infant, the placenta, they are all produced from exactly the same cells," stated Ceallaigh. "It isn't some type of waste materials your body produces individually."

Once the umbilical cord isn't cut, it naturally closes off after around an hour after birth. The umbilical cord and attached placenta will fully remove in the baby between two to ten days following the birth.

Dr. James Van Hook, director of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the College of Cincinnati Clinic, states if doctors momentarily delay clamping the umbilical cord there's an opportunity that babies could possibly get your final transfusion of bloodstream cells wealthy in stem cells and immunoglobulin that theoretically might help the newborn protect against infections. However, Van Hook cautions in individuals cases the umbilical cord is held inside a couple of minutes of birth, not left to close up naturally.

"Similarly we would like the most secure possible delivery however it is a natural process," stated Van Hook. "This is an area [where we want]to learn how to balance the pleasure of getting an infant keeping the vehicle safe.Inch

Based on Van Hook, the riskiest facet of "lotus births" is making certain the area surrounding the umbilical is stored clean to ensure that there's no recourse of infection which the placenta and umbilical cord don't change up the baby's care.

But whilst not traditional, Van Hook states he wouldn't mind letting the mother and father determine if they would like to possess a "lotus birth" as lengthy as there have been no underlying medial issues.

"Basically was being careful of the patient, that's a few of the options people make," stated Van Hook. "They are empowered to create their options."