A Safer Start in Life
Healthcare’s Journey from Improvisation to Innovation
How Newborn Care Has Become Safer
Just a few decades ago, childbirth and early neonatal care looked very different from today. Many procedures that are now performed with precision and with the help of advanced, purpose-built products were once handled with simpler, often improvised solutions. This was especially true when it came to umbilical cord care, a detail that plays a crucial role in a baby’s first moments of life.
Then: Cloth Strips, Cotton Strings, and Questionable Hygiene
In the past, it was common to tie off the umbilical cord using cotton strings, cloth strips, or whatever materials were readily available. Sometimes these materials were boiled to be “clean,” but there was no guarantee of sterility. Hygiene could be lacking, which increased the risk of infections, bleeding, or the umbilical stump not being properly secured. Healthcare staff often had to rely on experience and creativity rather than safe, standardized tools.
Infant mortality was a harsh reality: in 1868, the infant mortality rate in Sweden was 18%. At the same time, 300 out of every 100,000 women died during what was then called ”childbed fever.”
Now: Safer Products and Focus on the Infant’s Comfort
Today, things look very different. Advances in medical technology and neonatal care have given us access to modern, safe, and hygienic products that make a significant difference, both for the child’s health and for the healthcare staff’s working conditions.
Products such as umbilical cord clamps, sterile packaged rings, and ergonomically designed instruments are now standard in professional care. They’re designed to be easy to use, reduce the risk of complications, and be gentle on the infant’s delicate skin.
One example of this progress is the CETRO® Cordring, a sterile, single-use umbilical ring that is easily applied with forceps. It is soft, flexible, and does not interfere with the baby’s movement or diaper fit. Most importantly, it’s designed to close tightly and securely, keeping the stump in place until it naturally detaches, without causing discomfort.
Delayed Cord Clamping: A Modern Practice with Historic Roots
Another major change in modern delivery care is delayed cord clamping, waiting before cutting the cord after birth. This allows the baby to receive a larger volume of blood from the placenta, providing extra iron and stem cells. It’s a clear shift from earlier practices where clamping often occurred immediately.
In fact, the debate about the timing of cord clamping has been ongoing for over 200 years. As early as the 1800s, articles were published on the topic. Early cord clamping is defined as clamping or cutting within 20 seconds after birth, while delayed clamping means waiting at least 2–3 minutes or until pulsations in the cord have ceased (Wiklund et al., 2008).
As recently as 2006, early clamping was still practiced at about 70% of Swedish maternity clinics (Dagens Medicin, 2007), and this was standard in much of the Western world as well (Hutton & Hassan, 2007). One argument for early clamping has been the ability to quickly take a blood sample from the umbilical cord to analyze pH levels, helping assess any oxygen deficiency during birth. However, this sampling doesn’t require permanent clamping, a thin needle can be used to take the sample directly from the cord’s vessels, both venous and arterial, without prior clamping. Ideally, this is done immediately after birth while holding the cord for stabilization.
At the same time, the benefits of delayed clamping are increasingly recognized: the baby receives a larger blood volume that serves as an extra reservoir, and the stem cells may have long term effects on the body’s immune and healing abilities (Wiklund et al., 2008). Today, two clamps or forceps are commonly used for permanent cord clamping, and it’s often the father who gets to cut the cord, a moment full of symbolism and emotion (Hagström, 1996).
The Future of Care Begins with the Right Tools
The difference between past and present is not only technical, it’s also about security and safety. With today’s products, care can be more predictable, more hygienic, and more child-friendly. The risk of infections and complications has decreased thanks to better materials, clearer routines, and sterile single use solutions.
At the same time, the focus has shifted from “just making it work” to “making it work safely, easily, and with respect for the newborn’s needs.” That’s a significant and positive change.
In Summary: From Necessary Workarounds to Conscious Choices
We’ve come a long way from the days when improvisation and experience were the main tools in newborn care. Today, we have products that make work easier for healthcare staff and safer for families. It’s a development to be proud of and one we should continue to build on.
Because when it comes to the tiniest lives, every detail matters.
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