The new birth trend that plays with fire

The cutting of the umbilical cord is a beautiful moment during birth when the baby is formally detached from the mother then placed in her loving arms. Often the father gets to cut the cord or a special family friend. That is, until now.

A new birth trend is sweeping through delivery suites where the umbilical cord is burned instead of cut. It’s meant to be a more peaceful, symbolic way of celebrating that moment. It also serves to cauterise and sterilise the cord rather than the abrupt clamping and slicing that normally occurs.

The philosophy behind the practice is to slow down the entire birth process. Cord burning is a celebration of new life rather than a sterile, swift medical procedure.

There are thought to be health benefits too. Cord blood contains super cells, including precious stem cells. By slowing down the process of severing the umbilical cord, the baby could receive the benefits of that cord blood.

Keen to give it a try? You’ll need five people for the ceremony – two to hold the candles, one to hold a piece of cardboard covered in tinfoil to create a barrier between the flame and the baby, one to hold the placenta plate underneath the dripping wax of the candles and someone to slowly twist the part of the cord that is burning to assist the process. Once the cord burned through, a knot is tied in the portion still attached to the baby, which will dry and fall of naturally within a few days.

You might find some hospitals hesitant to facilitate the ceremony due to the use of flames but more and more are opening themselves up to different approaches to birth.

Did you have an alternative birth?