A hug that is forever engraved: unforgettable memories of the mother’s first warm hug when her baby was born.
When I met him for the first time… I had the opportunity to see how my cord felt. My oldest daughter arrived overnight (just 15 fishing minutes away) and I was SO overwhelmed with joy and relief that I couldn’t be bothered to look at her and ask to see her.
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But when I started photographing settlements, I discovered that cordoes were one of my favorite things to capture in the history of settlement. Each umbilical cord is completely unique (just like every baby) and I was fascinated by the different shapes, sizes, and patterns.
I’ve shared numerous collections of cables over the last few years and I’m excited to share some new images with you.
Some things to keep in mind about the symphony chords:
Nᴜchal cords (cords around the neck) are VERY common and rarely cause complications. Many of my clients have shawl cords every year… and my own baby who was born last December had shawl cords. You may only want to wear it (or not) on your own, as providers are more skilled at easily sliding the cord as the baby grows. I often hear people talk about chal cords as if they were scary, bad, or dangerous.
This is a variation of normal fetal distress and rarely occurs. Infants dramatically change the first milestones and destroy the baby’s life! Since your baby has just born, its cord is usually thick and brightly colored. If you put your finger on your cord, you would feel sorry. Once the baby is born, the need for pain and oxygen disappears, so the cord will stop beating and become white and flat. (You’ll see examples of plᴜmp chords and flat chords in this slideshow… and the reason for the difference is time!).
You can feel your own rope, look at it and ask questions about it while standing. Some providers don’t realize how important details like this are to some birth families. If you are worried about your cord or place, make sure you (or your partner) ask to see and touch it.
