Check this out:
http://psychesknot.typepad.com/psyches_knot/2003/11/what_the_jury_n.html What the Jury Needs to Know - A Letter to Distaso & Harris
EXCERPT
...Juror - "But what about the umbilical cord? Where did it go? Somebody had to cut that thing, they're tough! Yeah and where's the placenta for that matter?"
I researched what happens to an umbilical cord if it is not cut. I found something called "Lotus Birth". It is a component of some natural birthing practices in which the umbilical cord is not clamped, not cut but rather left attached to both the baby and the placenta for days. Baby, cord and placenta all stay in one unit so to speak for several days until the cord becomes friable due to lack of blood flow and naturally breaks away on it's own. Where does it break away when left to it's own devices? Almost flush with the abdomen, leaving about a quarter inch of umbilical cord behind that heals and forms a perfect belly button. The autopsy described what was left of Conner's umbilical cord as being friable and about a quarter inch long. If presented well a juror should be able to understand that Conner's umbilical cord deteriorated in the same manner as a natural "Lotus birth" procedure details. It just did it more slowly due to the cold, protected environment. Having already naturally deteriorated from the lack of blood flow from Laci it probably broke away immediately or soon after Conner was expelled through the abraided opening of the uterus.
(snip)