Umbilical Cord Clamp: Small Tool, Life-Saving Role

An umbilical cord clamp corresponds to a plastic medical device used in maternity and neonatal care to tightly occlude the umbilical cord of the child after being cut. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord serves as the vital connection between the baby and the placenta; it provides oxygen and nutrients while eliminating waste products. The umbilical cord would now be cut and clamped after the baby was born.
The clamp is positioned some centimeters away from the umbilicus of the newborn. After application, the cord is cut between the clamp and the placenta. This prevents any blood spillage and contamination through the cord stump, which remains a very open channel immediately after birth.
Modern umbilical cord clamps are made from medical-grade plastics like polypropylene, a material quite valuable for its harmlessness, strength, and sterilizability. These clamps are single-use devices that are universally designed for easy application under any scenario, especially situations that call for immense time pressure like emergency or caesarean deliveries.