Alternative to Cord Blood Banking

[Koan]

I gave birth in a public hospital here in September. I asked for delayed cord clamping. They did not cut the cord. After about five minutes the midwife showed me the cord, it was white and had stopped pulsating. My husband then cut it.

eta. The midwives we had at my most recent birth were wonderful. They followed our preferences in the birth plan and we had a great experience.

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[thanka2]

I gave birth in a public hospital here in September. I asked for delayed cord clamping. They did not cut the cord. After about five minutes the midwife showed me the cord, it was white and had stopped pulsating. My husband then cut it.

eta. The midwives we had at my most recent birth were wonderful. They followed our preferences in the birth plan and we had a great experience.

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That's great to hear. Not the case in my public hospital birth. Just luck of the draw.

 

[charade]

Koan, which public hospital was this? Good to know they are supportive of parents' requests during the birth.

 

[Koan]

Prince of Wales. Other than eating during labour they did everything I asked. Luckily I was only in labour a few hours so that didn't matter too much!

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[thanka2]

Prince of Wales. Other than eating during labour they did everything I asked. Luckily I was only in labour a few hours so that didn't matter too much!

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I think that length of labor also has a significant role in one's treatment in labor. If you enter the hospital nearly ready to push there isn't time for them to tamper with you as much--this is a huge advantage. This is also one of the reasons why doulas are hired in HK to help women stay at home longer in a bid to have a lesser chance of being pressured for interventions in the hospital. But, it is remarkable that they delayed cord clamping because when we explained our wishes in our birth plan to the staff on duty at the public hospital when I was in labor they thought we were nuts to request something like that and asked for a defense of our wishes--which they didn't get because....well...it was already explained in the birth plan and I was in active labor with my husband helping me so we didn't have time to have a debate with them. In the end, they ignored our wishes and did what they wanted.

That's the thing with the public hospital....just total luck of the draw...no standard procedure across the board and greatly depends on which facility you're at, what time you're there and who is on shift at that time and what their attitude happens to be. Lucky Koan...they even let the father cut the cord! Simply remarkable! Yay for those midwives--hope you took names and sent a thank you card