The Magic of Delayed Cord Clamping
Come sit with us for a moment.
There is a pause after birth, a sacred, unhurried space where something unseen is still unfolding.
Your baby is here.
Breathing. Resting against you.
And yet, they remain connected to you.
The cord between you continues to pulse, quietly carrying what your baby still needs. This is the space where we wait patiently. Not because we were told to. But because, for generations, midwives simply knew.
I remember early on in my practice, when one of my consulting physicians heard that I always waited to clamp and cut the cord, I was chastised by them that it was a dangerous practice and increasing risk of jaundice in the newborn. I wasn’t new to the birth world and I had seen midwives for years wait and had never seen or heard of an excessive number of jaundiced babies. Even my grandmothers, those midwives before me had waited. I smile at their wisdom. Somehow, they just knew it was important. Perhaps not the “why”, but a quiet knowledge lived within them that patience was best. Everything had a purpose.
What is Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping is the practice of waiting until the cord completely ceases to pulsate before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after birth. Instead of immediately separating baby from the placenta, we allow time for the remaining blood in the cord to continue flowing to your baby. This often takes a few minutes until the cord softens, lightens, and the pulsing fades away, until it finally stops. The cord eventually turns white and thins out signaling it has done it’s job. It is my experience, that on average it takes about 10-20 minutes, if it is a waterbirth, it may even take a bit longer. And that’s okay with us. We are a very patient bunch!
Why Waiting Matters
During this brief window, your baby receives a final, gentle transfusion of blood from the placenta. Studies have shown that they can receive up to 30% more of their blood. This extra blood provides increased iron stores for the first months of life, a smoother cardiovascular transition, and better oxygen delivery in those first moments after they are born.
It is a simple act. But one that has lasting benefits.
Midwives Have Always Known
Long before it became a recommendation in modern guidelines, midwives were already practicing delayed cord clamping. Not from a protocol, but from observation. From watching babies transition more peacefully. From seeing stronger color, steadier breathing, and calmer beginnings. It wasn’t called “evidence-based” then. It was called “a knowing”, they passed on from midwife to midwife for generations.
What It Looks Like in a Birth Center
At our Texas birth center, the Center for Birth, this moment is never rushed. Your baby remains with you skin to skin, warm and supported.
We watch.
We wait.
We honor the timing that your body and your baby are already following.
Often, this unfolds naturally alongside those first quiet moments after birth when your baby begins to stir, root, and move toward the breast.
You can read more about those first moments in our blog Breastfeeding in the Golden Hour.
Is There a “Right” Amount of Time?
Yes. When the cord has completely stopped pulsating, which can range from just a few minutes to twenty minutes like I mentioned earlier. During this time, we look for signs that it is finishing it’s job: the pulsing of the cord slows, then begins to fade and we watch as baby shows signs of transitioning well. The goal is not the clock.
It’s the completion of a physiological process.
When Timing May Look Different
There are moments when immediate care is needed for baby or for you. In those situations, we prioritize safety. Thankfully, those are rare, but even then, whenever possible, we look for ways to support a gentler transition and preserve connection.
A Small Pause That Changes Everything
Delayed cord clamping is not dramatic. It doesn’t require equipment or intervention. It is simply a pause. Within that pause your baby receives what is still theirs, your body completes its work as the transition into this world becomes just a little bit softer.
Even though as midwives, we have honored this moment as part of our standard, recent studies support delayed cord clamping and only confirm what we have quietly known. As for the increase in jaundice: the studies show there is a very slight increase, however it is important to note that in over 3000 births that our mother/daughter team has attended, we actually have seen a lower incidence of jaundice in our newborns, even with our standard practice of true delayed cord clamping.
Part of a Larger Philosophy of Care
This way of honoring timing doesn’t stand alone. It is part of a broader approach. One that values patience, presence, and trust in the natural physiology of birth.
The same philosophy that protects the golden hour…
That creates space for bonding…
And that supports the quiet rituals that follow birth.
You can explore more about what this kind of care feels like on our care page.
Come sit with us, we’d love to show you around!
If you’re exploring your options and wondering what kind of care feels right for you, we would be honored to walk through it with you.
Midwife Ashton helping big sister cut the cord in our Fort Worth birth center.