Checking for cord. Some caregivers will routinely check to see if the cord is around the baby's neck while they are waiting for the next contraction. They may do this by gently sliding two of their fingers between the back of the baby's neck, and the woman's pubic bone, close to where her
clitoris is. If the cord is found around the baby's neck, (normally happening in about 25% of all births), your caregiver may try to ease the loop of cord over the baby's head or allow it to slip over the baby's shoulders and trunk as their body is being born.
If the cord is around the baby's neck more than once (and / or is very tight), your caregiver will usually place two clamps on the cord, about 3cm apart, and then cut the cord to allow it to be unravelled from around the baby's neck. The baby usually needs to be born fairly quickly after this procedure as the oxygen supply is now cut off from the woman to her baby. Many babies need to have some oxygen and
resuscitation after the cord has been cut early, but usually respond and cry within a minute or so.
Checking for (and cutting) the cord is probably a procedure that is done more often than it needs to be. Most babies can be born quite easily with a loop of cord around their neck and just have it looped off them once their body is born. Many caregivers feel uncomfortable dealing with the cord and even go to the trouble of cutting a cord that could have easily been looped over the baby's head, if necessary. This may be something you could discuss with your caregiver during the pregnancy or include in your
birth plan.
Birth of the shoulders. Once the baby's head is born, and the shoulders have rotated, your caregiver will place one hand on each side of your baby's head, over the baby's ears. When the next contraction begins your caregiver will apply some gentle pressure, guiding the baby's head towards the woman's bottom.