Autism, Mental Retardation,

Cerebral Palsy and the Cord Clamp

 

This story is basically very simple.  Before birth, the placenta breathes for the child, feeds it and excretes for it.  After birth, the child’s lungs, gut and kidneys must take over these functions that are controlled by the child’s brain.  During birth, blood is transferred from the placenta to the child so that the lungs, gut, kidneys and brain can function well.  Immediate Cord Clamping at birth (ICC) keeps this blood in the placenta.

 

In adults, a stroke is caused by loss of blood flow to part of the brain.  In the newborn, insufficient blood flow damages those parts of the brain that are actively growing.  When a large amount of the child’s blood is clamped in the placenta, blood flow in the brain is impaired and injury results.

 

The basic injury is blood loss into the placenta.  Birth brain injury is avoided by not clamping the umbilical cord and by allowing placental blood to flow into the child during and after birth.  The child closes its own cord vessels naturally and perfectly, and at the correct time - when the right amount of blood has been transfused.

 

Autism, Mental Retardation and Cerebral Palsy are preventable by normal – physiological – umbilical cord vessel closure.

 

Mission: End the Autism Epidemic

The objective of this web site is to eliminate ICC from obstetrical and midwifery practice, and to delay cord clamping until every newborn has received a full, optimal placental transfusion.

This ensures an optimal blood volume, an intact central nervous system, and a maximal IQ at birth for every child.  Education of expectant parents and grandparents about the effects of ICC is of paramount importance in preventing birth brain injury.