Pregnancy & Childbirth

  1. Home
  2. Parenting & Family
  3. Pregnancy & Childbirth

Cut an Umbilical Cord

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

Cutting the cord can be a joyous moment in a person's life. Being able to symbolically break the link from the internal womb world to extrauterine life.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

  1. Be sure the cord has stopped pulsing for most births.
  2. Ensure that there are two clamps on the cord.
  3. Hold the section of cord to be cut with a piece of gauze under it.
  4. Using sterile scissors cut between the two clamps.
  5. Dab excess blood.
  6. Place scissors away.

Tips:

  1. The gauze keeps excess blood from splattering.
  2. Remind everyone that mom and baby can't feel the cord being cut.
  3. The cord is thicker and harder to cut, more like meat gristle. Don't be surprised.

What You Need:

  • A newborn baby
  • Sterile scissors
  • Gauze

Explore Pregnancy & Childbirth

About.com Special Features

Out of Dinner Ideas?

Try our Meal Planner for great recipe ideas that are guaranteed to make meal prep easier. More >

What is a Recession?

Sure, we're all talking about it, but what, exactly, defines a recession? More >

Pregnancy & Childbirth

  1. Home
  2. Parenting & Family
  3. Pregnancy & Childbirth
  4. Your Pregnant Body
  5. Placenta
  6. Cut an Umbilical Cord

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.