The placenta is a part of the baby's body, a sacred organ that feeds, nourishes, and keeps babies safe. Until the cord has stopped pulsating (approximately five minutes after birth), the placenta continues to provide blood, oxygen, and other nutrients to the newborn baby. Penny Simkin, a renowned nurse, explains the process in this short video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RywNup2CM&feature=player_embedded
In many modern hospitals, doctors clamp and cut the cord moments after birth. In some cases, they may wait 60 seconds at the request of the mother. But even after a minute, the baby may not have not received all of his or her blood from the placenta. Immediate cord clamping can translate to the loss of one third of the baby's blood. This increases the risk of anemia, increases the need for resuscitation (because the baby is not receiving sufficient oxygen from their cord), and increases the likelihood of separation from the mother. Even when observation and resuscitation are needed, they are best performed beside the mother, so that the baby, attached to the placenta, can continue receiving oxygen through the cord.
A recommended delay time of 2 minutes is a good compromise that allows the baby to receive most of his or her blood, and may ease obstetrician anxiety.
For those pursuing home birth, leaving the cord intact is another possibility: lotus birth is a traditional practice in which the baby is wrapped up with his or her placenta until they naturally separate from one another, a few days after birth.
Enjoy this beautiful organ by making placenta prints on watercolor paper, planting it under a fruit tree, or cooking it for dinner. It is perhaps the most nutrient-dense food in the world!
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