Delayed Cord Clamping Benefits

Honouring Nature’s Design at Birth

When a baby is born, their placenta is still a vital part of their physiological system. The baby and placenta together are called the Feto-Placental Unit, with blood actively circulating between the two.

By the time of birth:

• The baby holds ~2/3 of their blood volume

• The placenta holds ~1/3

That’s a significant portion of the baby’s own blood still residing in the placenta at birth.

Why Wait to Clamp the Cord?

When you wait to clamp and cut the cord - ideally until it stops pulsating and turns white (can take 2–20 minutes) - you allow the baby’s blood to fully transfer from the placenta to their body.

This can result in lifelong benefits for your child’s development and wellbeing.

Proven Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping:

• Decreases risk of anemia

• Increases iron stores

• Increases stem cells

• Increases red blood cells by ~60%

• Improves transitional circulation

• Reduces need for blood transfusions

• Assists with brain & nervous system development

• Increases total blood volume by ~30%

• Lowers risk of intraventricular hemorrhage & necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm babies

C-Section & Emergency Births

Delayed cord clamping is still beneficial, even during caesarean, emergency, and preterm births.

In C-sections, the uterus doesn’t contract in the same way as a vaginal birth, meaning less blood is naturally transferred to the baby. Delaying the cord cut helps complete this transfer.

The Risk of Immediate Cord Clamping

Clamping the cord immediately can deprive your baby of up to 30% of their total blood volume.

To put this into perspective: In an adult, losing 30–40% of blood volume is classified as Class 3 Hemorrhagic Shock - a medical emergency requiring urgent blood transfusion to prevent organ damage or death.

Why do this to a newborn?

Honour the Natural Wisdom

This practice costs nothing, takes only a few extra minutes, and can offer a lifetime of benefits for your child’s vitality, development, and immunity.

Whenever possible, wait to clamp. Let nature finish what it started. 💗