what happens if an umbilical cord is not cut off?

Question

does it dry up and then fall off, and what's the point of cutting it off if it does just fall off on its own?

this is after the placenta is birthed and such.

Answer 1

Cutting the umbilical cord is simply a matter of convenience. If left, the cord will eventually detach on it own. However, there are two aspects which make it a great deal more convenient for most people to hurry the process. The first is the detachment of the placenta from the mother. This is not always immediate and can take several minutes - possibly up to an hour. Not cutting the cord would therefore require that the baby remain attached to the mother until the placenta detaches. Secondly, it can take up to 10 days or more for the cord to dry up and fall off on its own. Added to this, to stop it from rotting, a great deal of care and assistance has to be taken by the mother to air the placenta and cord as well as assist the drying process. There is an interesting article by a fellow New Zealander describing her experience of this natural process (referred to as Lotus Birth). I have provided the link below for you to read. As you will see, it is not a process that the majority of women today would wish to engage in.

Answer 2

It will just dry up and fall off on its own eventually. Most people don't want to haul around a decaying placenta, though.

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Birth

"Lotus Birth is the practice of leaving the umbilical cord intact following birth, until it detaches naturally from the umbilicus..."

Answer 3

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/axylF

It is attached to the placenta, when that comes out, so does the rest of the cord. A little bit is left on baby and clamped at birth, will fall off on its own in 7-10days

Answer 4

well i would assume that more nutrients are given to the baby. Personally i have mine removed when i have my c-sections and i donate my placenta and cord to the neonatal unit where preemie babies need the richness of the cord and placenta. Most people don't think of doing that but it saves lives when you do.

Answer 5

That is called a lotus birth, and it naturally falls of faster without being cut.

The point of cutting it, is so that mother doesn't have to stay around the beautiful organ of life...the placenta.

Babies often cry when the cord is cut, and many people believe (myself included) that it hurts them. Babies whos placentas are kept with them after birth, are usually very happy and content and let go of the placenta when they are ready. Some babies are even picky who touches their placenta!

You can then plant the placenta under a tree. Lovely.

Answer 6

umbilical cord dries and fall off but still it must be cut because if it is leave uncut it would cause an infection.the cord may carry bacterias that would eventually goes to the baby's system,thus causing infection.