I wasn't aware about this matter until I did more research before the birth of my second kid. With my first kid, I had myself hooked on IV, received episiotomy (even tough I stated not to on my Birth Plan), had the ultrasonic fetus monitor attached at all times, basically very uncomfortable and un-natural, even tough my first kid was born naturally (no C-section). With my second kid, it was so much different. No IV (which means I can take a walk to ease the pain), no episiotomy, no ultrasonic fetus monitor attached on me at all times, I can had snack, drink my herbal tea to boost my energy, and many wonderful things. Off course, on my first birth experienced, they offered me Epidural before the birth & Pitocin after the childbirth, which I had to keep telling them "no!"

I'm so lucky that the nurse that was on duty to assist me at the time of my second birth experienced, was honored my Birth Plan & totally supported our wish, to have a natural birth experience. It wasn't easy now days even in Indonesia, to experience un-medicated natural childbirth. I'm so happy that they didn't cut the umbilical cord too early at that time..

Umbilical Cords Clamped Too Soon, Researchers Say

By Robin Nixon, LiveScience Staff Writer

Usually within the first minute of birth, the umbilical cord running between mother and infant is clamped. But this may be too fast, researchers say.

Waiting until the cord stops pulsing could give the newborn significant health benefits, suggests a review article in the most recent issue of the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

"Ob-gyns and parents should think about giving the cord blood to the baby," said lead researcher Paul Sanberg of the University of South Florida. "It only takes a few minutes."

The umbilical cord carries nutrients and oxygen from mom-to-be's placenta to the developing infant's abdomen. (It leaves a life-long impression in the form of the belly button.) When the practice of immediate cord clamping first began about a half century ago, the value of cord blood, especially its stem cells, which can develop into a suite of other cells, was not known. But now we know that stem cells have many therapeutic properties, Sanberg told LiveScience.

"It is not just regular blood going in," he said. "It is nature's first stem cell transplant."

Common problems in newborns are usually related to their underdeveloped organs, which might be helped by the regenerative properties of stem cells, Sanberg theorized.

After reviewing the majority of research in the field, Sanberg and his colleagues concluded that delaying cord clamping could reduce the infant's risk of many illnesses, including respiratory distress, chronic lung disease, brain hemorrhages, anemia, sepsis and eye disease.

The risk of such problems, and thus the potential benefit of delaying cord clamping, is particularly significant for premature babies and those born malnourished or suffering from other complications.

Still, the researchers suggest delaying cord clamping may be beneficial for healthy, full-term babies as well — after all, it may be what we have evolved to do.

"Evolutionarily, there is clearly value for this," Sanberg said, explaining that all mammals, including most humans through history, allow the maternal blood to finish being transferred before severing the cord. The squatting birthing position, only recently out of vogue in the West, may have even facilitated this transfer by harnessing gravity.

"Only in the last half century or so has mankind started cutting the cord early," Sanberg said.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/health/delay-clamping-umbilical-cord-100524.html

PS: If you need a sample of Birth Plan, especially if you're gonna give birth in a hospital, but you wish to have un-medicated natural childbirth, you can contact me in private.