DIY knitted umbilical cord clamps are the new rage amongst new mums. The plastic clamps used in hospitals have been dismissed for personalized knitted or crocheted ties.
Private midwives claim 80% of their clients are bringing in their own DIY cord clamps to the birth, where their babies will usually wear them for a week or until the cord stump is healed and falls away.
Medics are slamming the new trend as dangerous as the materials used are non-sterile and can lead to infection.
Image by Emma Jean Photography of baby James Robertson with a knitted cord clamp.
Emma Nolan, a midwife in Brisbane, used a DIY cord clamp on her own baby three years ago before they became a trend. Ms Nolan believes it’s a better alternative to the plastic clamps which are hard and uncomfortable under a nappy. She doesn’t think the knitted cord clamps can lead to infection as the decorative part is kept outside of the nappy.
“I used one on my own child three years ago but then you couldn’t get any of the pretty decorative ones, today there are loads of patterns online showing how to make them and you can buy personalised designs. It’s not really about the aesthetics though, the traditional plastic clamp is very hard and uncomfortable under the nappy for a newborn and mums just took it upon themselves to come up with a better option,” she said.
Brisbane obstetrician, Gino Pecoraro doesn’t agree with the new trend and is against the use of the DIY clamps.
“I suspect this is merely the latest in a series of fads around childbirth and seems to be more about fashion and wanting to stand out rather than dealing with a real issue,” Dr Pecoraro said.
“My concern with a crocheted or knitted wool device is the potential for infection as they can easily get wet as they become covered in faeces and urine. The plastic ones are sterile, have stood the test of time and are easy to apply. It may well be that a clamp made of something more pliable like a siliconized rubber which would be easier for the mums to look after and that can be explored,” he said.
Amelia Robertson, Brisbane mum of two, made her own knitted cord clamps for both her babies back when they were uncommon.
“I made one for my daughter three years ago and they were uncommon, now they are everywhere — all over social media. I chose not to use the plastic version as they are not comfortable it had nothing to do with fashion,” she said.
What do you think of the DIY cord clamps? Have you used one on your baby?
