No, cutting a baby's umbilical cord does not hurt the baby.
Why Cutting the Umbilical Cord is Painless
The umbilical cord lacks nerve endings, meaning neither the baby nor the mother feels pain when it is clamped and cut. According to one source, it feels "strange to whoever is cutting it," and has been compared to "cutting into calamari."
Key Facts About the Umbilical Cord:
- No Nerve Endings: The umbilical cord doesn't have nerves that transmit pain signals.
- Painless Procedure: Clamping and cutting are painless for both mother and baby.
- Sensory Experience (for cutter): The person cutting the cord may experience a unique sensation, but it's not painful.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Nerve Endings | Absent |
| Pain Sensation | None for baby and mother |
| Procedure Sensation | Strange sensation for the person cutting |
