Delayed Clamping of Umbilical Cord Benefits Babies

A La Trobe University-led study has found delayed clamping of the umbilical cord after birth benefits babies by increasing their blood and iron levels.
The review, which involved 15 international trials and nearly 4000 mothers and babies born at full term, was led by Professor of Midwifery Susan McDonald from La Trobe’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The review said that in many high-income countries, it was standard practice to clamp the umbilical cord connecting mother and baby less than a minute after birth.
‘However, clamping the cord too soon may reduce the amount of blood that passes from mother to baby via the placenta, affecting the baby’s iron stores,’ the review said.
On the other hand, it noted that delayed cord clamping, which is carried out more than a minute after birth, may also slightly increase the risk of jaundice, which is treated by light therapy. ‘The benefits of delayed cord clamping needed to be weighed against this small additional risk of jaundice in newborns,’ the review said.
Professor McDonald said the review supports the World Health Organization recommendation of cord clamping between one and three minutes after birth.
The researchers looked at outcomes for mothers and babies separately, and at haemoglobin concentrations as an indicator of healthy blood and iron levels.
‘While clamping the cord later made no difference to the risk of maternal haemorrhaging, blood loss or haemoglobin levels,’ the review said, ‘babies were healthier in a number of respects.’
Delayed clamping meant babies had higher haemoglobin levels between one and two days after birth and were less likely to be iron-deficient three to six months after birth. Their birth weight was also higher with delayed cord clamping