What does a first aider do with the umbilical cord?

Answer 1

The umbilical cord of the newly born baby continues. to provide oxygen for the newborn for the first minutes after north. It should be left alone without clamping or cutting. Place the newborn in his/ her mother's arms, if the cord is long enough. The cord should not tug on the attachment point on the baby or pull on the part that ends with the placenta. Pulling on the side going into the mother could cause excessive bleeding. The cord can be left attached to the placenta even after it is delivered from the uterus.It is best to just wrap it in a plastic bag until the midwife arrives with sterile scissors and an appropriate cord clamp. In the extreme situation in which help will not be arriving you may leave the placenta attached for several says. See Lotus birth or use a sterilized (by boiling) shoestring to tie the cord off approximately two inches from the newborn's belly. Tie it tightly by wrapping around and knotting at least 3 times. This will compress the 3 vessels in the cord and stop any bleeding from the newborn. Now the cord can be cut using a sterilized scissors about 1/2 inch away from tied off area. Of course you cut the maternal side and leave the string and cord stump on the baby. The cord may spurt a drop or two if blood when cut. Remember, neither the mother or baby will experience pain with the severing of the cord.It is a kind thing to explain to the baby what you are doing since the cord has been pretty important all it's life.