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Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy.

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No Dirty Shoelaces for the Umbilical Cord, Ever!

May 31, 2018 By Deena Leave a Comment

Yet again, I read about it. A baby born in the car, on the way to the hospital, and the 911 operator coached the father to tie off the umbilical cord with his dirty shoelace. We should NEVER be tying off an umbilical cord with non-sterile items. Why not? In a word, bacteria. There are […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: 911, Baby, Birth, Childbirth, Childbirth Education Classes, Delayed Cord Clamping, Emergency Birth, Pregnancy, Umbilical Cord

Optimal Umbilical Cord Clamping

December 8, 2012 By Deena Leave a Comment

Dr. Alan Greene gives us an insightful look into the practice of immediate clamping of the umbilical cord and the detriments of doing so.  These include: decrease of red blood cells, decrease of white blood cells, decrease in baby’s iron levels and decreased oxygen levels.  His talk is thorough and compelling. He advocates for waiting at least […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Baby, Childbirth, Delayed Cord Clamping, Dr. Alan Greene, Evidence-based practices, Infant, Newborn, OB, Placenta, TED talk, Umbilical Cord

What about that Cord Blood?

October 18, 2011 By Deena 5 Comments

When baby is born there is still blood left in the umbilical cord.  This blood is being transferred to the baby from the placenta.  So, what to do with the cord blood?  You have four choices: Dispose of it Pay a private cord blood bank to keep it for you to use later, if needed […]

Filed Under: Into the Light, Main Blog Page Tagged With: Decision making, Delayed Cord Clamping, Interventions, Umbilical Cord

About Shining Light

Building empowerment, self-confidence and connection through candid education and compassionate advocacy for all families before, during and after pregnancy since 2012.

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