Cord Burning

Photo credit: www.appleblossomfamilies.com

The umbilical cord has connected the baby to the placenta for the last 9 months. It has helped to provide the baby with everything the baby needs. Even after birth the umbilical cord and placenta continue to provide blood, stem cells and T cells to the baby through their connection.

Cord burning, instead of cutting the cord, can be a gentle and respectful way to sever the bonds between the placenta, umbilical cord and baby. It can also be a safe and sanitary way for people without access to sterile scissors. Traditionally it is a beautiful and usually spiritual ceremony that honors the role of the placenta and umbilical cord to the baby and gently and slowly servers the connection between the three.
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Research shows that delayed cord clamping/cutting has many positive benefits (even for premature babies). Delaying even 3 minutes has a great impact on the baby, specifically their iron levels. ACOG now recommends delayed cord clamping and cutting. Cord burning can be a gentle and effective way to delay cord clamping. 

What You Will Need:

• 2 long candles
• Something to catch wax – aluminum foil, cardboard, cord burning box
• Matches or lighter
• Heat guard – cardboard (2 layers), cord burning box
  
  

Instructions:

• Feel free to wait as long as you would like to start this procedure. You can put on music, or say a prayer, or read a poem. You can involve as many family members as you would like. This is a gentle and slow process that takes time.
• It is easiest if baby is laying on its side. Make sure there is a barrier between baby and the flame (cardboard works)
• Light two candles and chose a spot to burn. It should be about 3-4 inches from the baby’s belly. Someone can hold the cord steady, but don’t pull on it.
• Position the candles opposite one another. Make sure you have something to catch the hot wax.
• There could be a pop or loud noise once you start burning the cord – this is normal and completely safe. If it makes your candle go out, just relight and keep burning. You can gently turn the cord to get an even burn.
• It takes about 15 minutes. It will produce a smell. Some people say it smells like barbeque, other people don’t like the smell as much. You can always have essential oils diffusing if you think the smell might bother you.
• Check the barrier periodically to make sure it isn’t getting too hot against baby’s skin.
• Once the cord is burned through – both ends will be hot. Wait for it to cool off before letting it rest back on baby.
• There are cord burning boxes/bowls and kits that people make. (You can find them on etsy.) 

If you would like to read a birth story that includes a cord burning ceremony - click here

Link for cord burning box set: Moontide Midwifery Shop (*I am not affiliated with this shop.)
Picture on the right: photo credit to Oxytocin Space  

Cool Facts About the Umbilical Cord:

• ​The cord is filled with a clear, gelatinous mucous called Wharton’s jelly, a substance that protects the internal arteries.
• The cord develops from the yolk sac which offers nutrients to the fetus before the placenta is functional enough to take over this job
• Cord tissue contains stem cells that can regenerate into different types of cells. Cord blood contains T-cells that have cancer-fighting properties.
• An umbilical cord usually has two arteries (which carry waste-containing blood to the placenta) and one vein (which carries nutrients and oxygen back to baby). The mother’s blood never mixes with her baby’s blood.
• The cord can serve as a back-up oxygen supply if baby needs resuscitation after birth.

Sources Cited & Resources:

- Placenta the Forgotten Chakra by Robin Lim (buy it on Amazon here)
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists: delayed cord clamping recommendations 
- PDF: Umbilical cord clamping is not a physiological necessity: Hutchon 2010, BJM April 2010, Vol 18, No. 4.
- Research: Effect of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal outcomes and iron status at 4 months: a randomized controlled trial 
- Research Review: Late versus early clamping of the umbilical cord in full ter neonates 
- World Health Organization: Recommendations on delayed cord clamping
- Research: Stem cells in the umbilical cord 
- Scientific Impact Paper: Clamping of the umbilical cord and placental transfusion
​- Birth Takes a Village: more information on cord burning