The umbilical cord was traditionally cut immediately after birth (within 30 seconds) for convenience and to allow urgent care, but modern practice favors delayed cord clamping (DCC) (waiting at least one minute) because the placenta continues to transfer blood, oxygen, and vital stem cells to the baby, improving iron stores, boosting immunity, stabilizing heart function, and aiding lung adaptation, especially beneficial for premature infants. Immediate clamping leaves significant blood in the placenta, while DCC allows for a smoother transition to breathing and better long-term health, though immediate cutting is still done if the mother or baby needs urgent medical attention, like significant bleeding or respiratory distress.
For example, the World Health Organization recommends that the umbilical cord not be clamped earlier than 1 minute after birth in term or preterm infants who do not require positive pressure ventilation.
Doctors traditionally cut the cord so quickly because of long-held beliefs that placental blood flow could increase birth complications such as neonatal respiratory distress, a type of blood cancer called polycythemia and jaundice from rapid transfusion of a large volume of blood.
Your baby may be taken to another part of the room to have some oxygen. They'll be brought back to you as soon as possible. Your baby will be examined by a midwife, neonatal nurse or paediatrician, then weighed and possibly measured, and given a wrist or ankle band with your name on.
The 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for the first 15 days of recovery, emphasizing rest to help the new parent heal and bond with the baby, by spending 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, gradually increasing activity while prioritizing rest, nourishment, and self-care over chores or visitors. It's a framework for creating boundaries and slowing down to prevent overexertion, though individual recovery needs should guide the pace.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
In reality, the third week might be the hardest week postpartum, since everything seems to feel “normal,” but so much is happening at the same time. This being said, the third week will be an important week to focus on your mental health.
Cramping: Afterpains are usually strongest on the second and third days following birth, after nursing, or after you take a prescribed uterus-contracting medication. The intensity will gradually decrease but may last up to 10 days postpartum.
Hospitals consider your placenta medical waste and will incinerate your placenta unless the patient requests to donate, privately bank, or take their placenta home.
Parents decline newborn vitamin K shots due to concerns about preservatives, high dosage, pain, and a belief it's unnecessary or "unnatural," sometimes influenced by misinformation about leukemia links (which studies disproved) or distrust in medicine, leading them to prefer alternative methods or forgo it, despite risks of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a serious condition causing brain damage or death.
After birth, your baby no longer needs the cord, so providers cut it (this is painless for you and your baby).
Umbilical cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells, which can renew themselves and develop into other types of cells. These stem cells are used in transplants for patients with cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Cord blood can also help treat over 80 other life-threatening diseases.
There are several other stats which also suggest that waiting for white is a no-brainer. For instance, delayed cord clamping can provide baby with up to 30% more blood, which is crucial considering all babies are born with just 66% of their total blood supply.
Just Below The Belly Button
Speaking of the fit of the front of the diaper, the top should sit just underneath your baby's belly button (or umbilical stump) without covering it. And the diaper shouldn't be too far below their belly button.
After the cord falls off, continue sponge baths for a few more days. Help the belly button area dry up. Then, tub baths will be fine.
Burying the placenta
The burial of the placenta was mentioned by all the participants as an Islamic recommended practice; they explained that as it is an obligation to bury the dead human body and it is encouraged to bury any separate part of the human body if possible out of respect.
Placental tissue, with its unique composition, contains an abundance of regenerative cells and growth factors. Researchers have discovered that these components may have immense therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine.
The patient is to be advised that where no request to remove the placenta from the hospital is received, the placenta will be disposed of in clinical waste as per Patient Support Service (PSS) processes.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
A numerical rating scale (NRS) of 0–10 was adopted to evaluate maternal pain, with 0 describing no labor pain and 10 describing the most severe labor pain. The higher the score, the more severe the labor pain is.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
You Shouldn't Do These 12 Things After Giving Birth
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
The first hour after birth, the “Golden Hour”, when a healthy baby is calmly placed skin-to-skin on the mother's chest, not only facilitates a smooth transition from the womb to the outside world, stabilising the baby physiologically, but also offers a unique opportunity for the mother and baby to connect emotionally ( ...