We have previously talked about the reasons provided by the defenders of the immediate cut of the cord and those who defend that it beats until it collapses. Investigating this topic I have found additional information, in the articles of Dr. M.G. Morley, which presents some of the consequences that, in his opinion, may have an early cut. One of the most worrisome is its possible relationship with the cerebral palsy, that so many difficulties and suffering entails children and their families. A fight that they face with courage, making these little ones have a dignified and happy life.
The studies I have read explain the reasons why early impingement may be one of the causes of this medical condition. We know that the oxygen deprivation it causes the death of neurons and if it lasts more than six minutes it causes permanent brain damage in humans. The mechanism by which the placenta transmits oxygenated blood to the baby provides the necessary support to regulate autonomous breathing at its own pace. If the cord is clamped, the baby is left without vital help during the change process. The supply of oxygen and the blood to carry oxygen are crucial elements for the sustenance of life.
As explained, when the cord is clamped immediately after birth or the first breath the baby runs out of extra oxygen supply. The blood that would help establish a proper function of the lungs stays in the mother's body. If the baby is healthy and strong, it transfers to the lungs all the blood it can to establish its functioning. In most healthy children, this does not have fatal consequences despite depriving them of up to 50% of their possible blood volume.
This is dangerous for all children but can you imagine how much this supply of oxygen needs a baby born asphyxiated by fetal or cord compression suffering? When a baby with these characteristics is born, he is already hypovolemic and suffocated, so he needs the oxygen supply of the placenta in order to recover. The medical term to designate brain damage due to lack of oxygen is called ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy, which is, neither more nor less, that the baby has suffered irreversible brain damage from suffocation. If the cord was pinched and the child already had problems, his chances of starting to breathe, transferring blood to the lungs leave him without enough irrigation in his brain.
This problem tries to palliate with transfusions and with intubation, but it is not possible to recover the brain if it is already damaged. His own blood, because the blood of the placenta belonged to the baby, has been discarded when he needed it most. And transfusions and intubation cannot revive dead neurons.
It can also happen that the baby suffers from a prolapse of the cord during childbirth, or from a return of the cord, but the solution is to decompress the cord immediately and let it recover its normal functioning.
The most severe degrees of lack of oxygenation have fatal consequences or cause problems that are detected shortly after birth. But the consequences of minor brain damage from hypoxia can take years to manifest. They will do it like behavioral and learning disorders or mental retardation. It is known that cases of childhood anemia can recover, but the brain damage caused by the lack of placental transfer lasts forever.
The relationship cause effect is not fully accepted but according to these studies this practice, which has become widespread in recent years could be related to the increase in cases of Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism and Asperger. It should be thoroughly investigated and taken into account to avoid this unnecessary risk to our children until their safety is demonstrated.
