Benefits of delayed cord clamping

Hi, I'm Karenna from Hope and Honey - offering childbirth education classes, HypnoBirthing, birth pool hire and much more in Perth, Western Australia. Here's my latest blog about delayed cord clamping:

It's often the first task a new Daddy is asked to do - cut the cord. In most Western countries this is most likely performed straight after birth but a growing number of studies are proving the benefits of waiting one to two minutes until the cord has stopped pulsating.

So what's all the fuss and what does it mean for us? Delayed or Optimal cord clamping is always something I mention to clients as it's not widely known about, but helps deliver approximately 40% more blood to the baby. During a vaginal birth, babies naturally mold themselves to fit down the birth canal - the plates in their skulls are flexible and move, the hormone relaxin loosens all the ligaments and muscles in their joints, they squeeze the amniotic fluid out of their lungs and they push some of their blood back into the placenta - all natural little ways to make themselves smaller. So when they are born, the cord continues to pulse and deliver this blood back to the baby. At the same time, when air hits the baby's skin they start to bring air into their lungs for the first time.

Allowing the cord to finish pulsating and finish delivering blood to the baby is shown to increase haemoglobin levels in newborns and iron levels in infants at 3-6 months. For me, it also makes sense to give your baby a helping hand in those first few moments when they are learning to breathe for the first time.

In most cases, it's as simple as just stating this as a preference. It's becoming more and more well-known and often I say to dads it's something they can remind caregivers of just after birth if this is something they want. Of course there are some situations where it's just not possible but in a 'normal' birth it may be something you might like to consider. If you are researching into cord blood banking, you may find that these practices can't be combined so it's a case of weighing up the benefits of both.

This is one of many choices parents have around birth and can be something to include in a birth plan or talk to your caregiver about. As with all choices, it's very individual - so get the facts, listen to the opinions and make up your own mind. For more information, check out this Ted Film or why not sign up to my natural childbirth classes or HypnoBirthing classes.

The Babymoon Boom

Hi I'm Karenna from Hope and Honey - offering HypnoBirthing classes, natural childbirth classes, birth pool hire and much more in Perth, Western Australia. Here's my latest blog about babymoons:

We did it, most of my friends did it - there's even a term for it! Yes the babymoon is high on the 'To Do' list of many parents-to-be. Defined as a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to enjoy a final trip together before the demands of a newborn baby come along - it's become big news.

We recently took 10 days out for a trip to Bali and I must say I'm really glad we did. Like most expecting couples we were on the treadmill of trying to squeeze everything in before bub - so we'd just moved house, I was officially launching Hope & Honey, studying, setting up the baby's room....etc. So even though it felt like an expense we could do without, it was a good move. We relaxed, went for massages, long dinners, reading, swimming, lounging by the pool - it was pure heaven. Not normally ones to sit still on holiday (we're normally changing trains, changing currency and changing hotels more times than hot dinners!) it was a bit of a revelation. Now we are on the home straight to meeting our little one in a few weeks, I know that we will both look back on that time as really precious.

Our Bali Babymoon x

But did you know that the term 'babymoon' was officially coined by Sheila Kitzinger to mean a private time at home for the parents and their newborn to enjoy some time together and bond. Arguably, this type of babymoon is just as, if not more, important than pre-baby chill out time. With the introduction of paternity leave and more companies being flexible about time off around the birth; many families are able to get this precious time together. It can be a crazy time, particularly for first-time parents, where new skills are being learnt, sleep is a bit hit-and-miss and family and friends often descend for visits. 

My advice is to plan yourself a post-baby Babymoon too. Be strict with visitors - if they're just there to coo over the baby and don't offer to take the washing out or vacuum your floors - ask them to wait a few weeks before coming round. You don't want to spend the baby's best hours of the day wishing your visitors would nip off so you can have a sleep or just enjoy that time yourself. Also people can wait a few weeks - it's important that both of you and the baby are happy and settled before inviting the hoards round and yes you do have a choice!

Be kind to yourself and kind to each other - it's a period of adjustment for all of you, baby included! So don't be hard on yourself about what you're doing right or wrong, take advice on board and then make your own decision, don't be afraid to ask for support if you need it and if you can - snatch some time just Mum, Dad & Bub to just be together. Your baby has been bonding with you all the way through pregnancy, listening to your voices & feeling your emotions, but it's a very special time just after birth and one you can't get back. So let's bring back the good old-fashioned meaning of the Babymoon - not worrying about the housework, those pesky tasks and other people; take some time just for you and your new family member.

With love xx

For more information and advice, why not sign up to Hope and Honey's childbirth classes or HypnoBirthing classes?