Cutting the Cord at a C-section — a guide for partners
What to expect when you're invited to cut the cord at the warmer after a C-section delivery — what's already happened, what's left to do, and what it feels like.
- Last reviewed
- Sources cited
- 4 sources
- Author
- Dr Jubal John, FRACP
- Category
- medical guides
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Take-home
At a C-section the first cord-cut already happened at the surgical field: that’s how the obstetrician separates the baby from the placenta. What you’re invited to do, a couple of minutes later at the warmer, is trim the long stump shorter so a small plastic clamp can sit close to the belly. The neonatal paediatrician sets it up, points at the spot, and hands you the scissors. Quick, painless for the baby, and entirely optional.
Two cuts, and you do the second one
After your baby is lifted out, the cord is left intact for at least a minute of delayed cord clamping (the WHO 2014 recommendation), now standard practice even at C-sections. That extra placental blood improves the baby’s iron stores for months. The obstetrician then applies a heavy surgical clamp and cuts between two clamps. That’s cut one: done at the surgical field, before the cord-cutting moment families remember.
Your baby comes to the resuscitation cot, or skin-to-skin in theatre, depending on the setup, with a 15–20 cm cord stump still attached, the heavy surgical clamp on the far end. Too long for sensible cord care at home. So we trim it shorter.
That second cut, at the warmer, is where you come in.
What we do, what you do
The sequence
The neonatal team will:
- Bring the baby to the warmer (or settle skin-to-skin if planned).
- Dry, warm, and check the baby, first priority.
- Apply a small plastic umbilical clamp about 2–3 cm from the baby’s belly. (The white or blue plastic clip stays on until the cord itself dries and falls off, a few days after you go home.)
- Hold the surgical-clamp end up so you have something to grip.
- Hand you the scissors and point at the spot, between the two clamps, closer to the surgical end.
You:
- Take the scissors.
- Squeeze. One firm press, or two, or three, whatever it takes.
- The cord parts, the surgical-clamp piece comes away, and the baby is left with a tidy stump.
Four things to know before the moment
- The heavy surgical clamp on the cord is not the tool. It’s already on, doing its job. The scissors are the only thing you need to hold.
- Take your time. Nothing is on a clock at this point. Have a breath, look at your baby, line up the scissors, then squeeze.
- Don’t pull on the cord. Pulling pulls on the baby’s belly. We hold the cord steady, your job is just the scissors.
- You don’t have to do it in one go. The cord is denser than people expect. A few small snips beats a single forced cut.
What it feels like
The cord cuts in two or three firm scissor presses. It’s rubbery, like dense calamari: the texture is exactly what people warn you about. A small amount of fluid may come out from the cut ends, expected, gauze is ready. The baby almost never reacts; the cut itself is silent for them. Half of partners’ hands shake. Doesn’t matter.
If you freeze, hand the scissors back. We do it. Many partners would rather have both hands free for the baby: that’s also lovely. You can change your mind any time, including after the scissors are in your hand. If you feel woozy, sit on the stool by the warmer and look at the baby’s face instead of the cord.
When the cord cut might not happen with you
- The baby needs more help breathing, warming or stabilising, resuscitation comes first; the cord cut is parked or done by us.
- A twin or higher-order delivery, where the order is coordinated with you.
- You’ve decided you’d rather not.
In each case, we explain what’s happening as it happens.
After the cut
The small plastic clamp stays on through the rest of the hospital stay and discharge. It falls off with the cord itself, naturally, usually 5–15 days after birth. Care is simple: keep it clean and dry, fold the nappy down so it’s not covered, let it do its thing.
For the full ongoing care plan, see umbilical cord care.
A note on the moment
The cord-cut at a C-section is a quieter version of the same gesture as at a vaginal birth, a small ceremonial act, not a medical procedure. If it lands as a meaningful moment, lovely. If it doesn’t, also lovely. Many partners find the moment that mattered was actually a few minutes earlier, the first cry, or the first time the baby was lifted onto the birthing parent’s chest. The baby is already yours.
Antenatal questions about a planned C-section?
Book an antenatal consultation to talk through the first hours after birth. Call (03) 9007 2099 or email admin@neopaeds.au.