Delayed Cord Clamping vs. Allowing the Natural Birth of Baby, Cord, and Placenta
- Kaleem Joy, Licensed Midwife
- Jan 25
- 4 min read
In recent years, delayed cord clamping has become more widely discussed and accepted, and that is a beautiful step forward. Yet there is an even more physiologically complete approach that has quietly been practiced for centuries: allowing the baby, the cord, and the placenta to finish their journey together before separation.
Understanding the difference empowers parents to make choices that support both baby and mother during one of the most profound transitions of life.
What Is Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping typically means waiting anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes after birth before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. This allows additional placental blood to flow into the baby, offering important benefits compared to immediate clamping.
While delayed cord clamping is certainly better than early clamping, it is still an interrupted process.
The Natural Completion of Birth: Baby, Cord, and Placenta
In a fully physiologic birth, the baby is born, placed skin-to-skin with their mother, and remains connected to the placenta until the placenta itself is born. Separation by clamping and cutting the cord often happens naturally, around 30–90 minutes after the birth of the placenta , once the cord has finished pulsing and the placenta has completed its role.
This approach honors the placenta as the baby’s first best friend — the life-sustaining organ that supported them throughout pregnancy and continues to support their transition into life outside the womb.
Why the Extra Blood Matters for Baby
Remaining connected to the placenta allows the baby to receive the full volume of their blood supply. This additional blood plays a critical role in:
Opening the lung fields as the baby transitions from fluid-filled lungs to breathing air
Improving oxygenation during the first moments and minutes of life
Supporting warmth and temperature regulation
Providing iron-rich blood that supports brain development and immune health
Allowing the heart and circulatory system to gently and gradually shift from fetal circulation to newborn circulation
Rather than forcing a sudden change, the baby is given time to adapt — calmly, safely, and intuitively.
Why This Matters for the Mother Too
Allowing the baby to remain connected to the placenta also supports the mother’s body in powerful ways.
When the baby finishes receiving what they need from the placenta, this completion signals the mother’s body to begin contracting again. These gentle, purposeful contractions help:
Birth the placenta more smoothly
Reduce the risk of excessive bleeding
Support the uterus in firming down naturally
In essence, the baby and placenta work together to guide the mother’s body through the final stage of birth.
Why Early Clamping Happens in Hospital Settings
In hospital environments, early clamping and cutting often occur to allow providers to:
Take the baby to a warmer for assessments
Perform routine measurements
Provide additional supportive care if concerns arise
These practices are largely rooted in systems designed around separation and efficiency rather than continuous connection.
How Midwives Support Physiologic Transition
Midwives who attend births at home or in birth centers are trained to provide newborn assessments and supportive care while the baby remains in the mother’s arms.
They are strong proponents of leaving the baby connected to the placenta at least until the placenta is born, unless there is a true medical reason not to.
This model of care prioritizes:
Skin-to-skin contact
Undisturbed bonding
Respect for the natural timeline of birth
Safety through presence, skill, and experience
A Note on Lotus Birth
Some people refer to the baby remaining connected to the placenta as a “lotus birth.” It’s important to clarify that:
Physiologic birth of the placenta usually involves the cord and placenta detaching from the baby around 3 - 7 days.
Lotus birth, by definition, means leaving the placenta attached until the cord naturally dries and falls off days later
Families who choose a lotus birth should do thorough research, as it requires special care and preservation of the placenta during that time.
You Are Your Baby’s Best Advocate
Every parent is a powerful advocate for their baby and themselves — regardless of birth setting or care provider choice.
Whether you are birthing at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital, understanding your options allows you to participate in your birth with confidence, clarity, and intention.
Support for Designing the Birth You Dream Of
I am available for private virtual consultations to help parents explore their options and design a birth experience that aligns with their values, vision, and sense of safety.
Together, we can create a space — both physical and emotional — where birth is honored as a transformative, connected, and empowering experience. Email kaleemjoymidwife@gmail.com for more information.
Your birth matters. Your choices matter. And the way your baby enters the world deserves reverence.
With love and deep belief in you,
Kaleem Joy Licensed Midwife
Natural childbirth, Natural Birth, Childbirth education, Birth education, Natural Birth classes, Unmedicated birth, home birth, waterbirth, homebirth, hospital natural birth, birth classes, lactation calsses, pregnancy classes, midwife, doula
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