Following the birth of a baby, many hospitals invite the father to bring scissors and cut the umbilical cord, which is either acquired by stem-cell labs or simply disposed of.
Some freshly minted parents prefer to take the cord home to plant beneath a tree. But there's a new type of parent that follows the trend of using the cord to make a souvenir.
For example, form it into a heart-shape or the word "Love" before it dries. These dried umbilical cords are often used to decorate a living room shelf or end up as a photograph on social media.
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"They're a reminder of the miracle of birth and a woman's fertility," according to Germany's Stern magazine. Some parents have even made their child's umbilical cord into a dream catcher.
DPA