How to Cut an Umbilical Cord

Cutting the umbilical cord after a birth is an exciting event in a new parent's life. The process may seem intimidating, but cutting an umbilical cord is easy if you follow these pointers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sterilized Scissors
• Gauze

1. Make sure the umbilical cord has stopped pulsating. The doctor and nurses should cue you when the time is right. You want the blood to have stopped pulsating so the mom and the baby will have both gotten all the blood back out of the cord.

2. Use two clamps to hold the umbilical card in place. Again, the doctor and nurses should help you with this part.

3. Hold the sectioned-off part of the umbilical cord with gauze.

4. Cut between the two clamps with sterilized scissors.

5. Dab the excess blood while cutting the cord.

Tips & Warnings

• Using gauze keeps the excess blood from splattering.
• Don't worry about hurting the mom or baby, neither of them can feel any pain via the umbilical cord.
• An umbilical cord is thick so don't be alarmed if you find it difficult to cut.
• Decide before delivery if you want to keep the cord blood. A growing number of new parents are deciding to keep this blood and bank it for future use.