I personally do cut and have seen a few twisted cords or wrapped snakes as well as lost a few babies over the years due to cord complications.

I think that cutting generically is almost an art-form. There are certain ways to do it which affect the hatchling less than other ways and there is more liberty in those methods the closer the hatchling is to pipping on its own.

Also constant checking of the babies would definitely make sense to me as having potential for causing issues. Them moving around more and more which in turn could cause issues with their cords makes sense. But I would guess is mostly in the cases where they have not nearly absorbed their yolk and are farther away from pipping on their own.

In general I would say the closer they are to them pipping that you cut the less complications you would have.
Also the closer you are to them pipping on their own the more you can check on them with out issues (after cutting).

There are people that cut in the 40s. I would say they are cutting a specific way and checking on them hardly ever, if at all, after they know what they have.

Hopefully that makes sense.....

Cutting a flap (not an open window) after the first one pips is one of the safer ways to do it IMO.

Great thread!