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. 💗