TL;DR
- The placenta is a vital resource of oxygenated blood.
- This blood provides red blood cells, iron and stem cells to your baby
- Delaying cord clamping for 30 – 60 seconds allows 80% of the remaining blood in the placenta to transfer to the infant.
- Potential benefits for Full Term Infants: higher hemoglobin levels at birth for the neonate and lower incidence of iron deficiency at 6 months of age, as well as by age 4 some evidence suggests a benefit to neurodevelopment.
- Potential Risks for Full Term Infants: Increase risk of the newborn needing phototherapy for jaundice.
- Potential benefits for Preterm Infants: Improves cardiovascular hemodynamics or circulation, increases iron stores in the neonate reduces need for blood transfusions and reduces the risk of bleeding in the brain and intestinal complications of prematurity.
What is the function of the placenta?
The placenta provides the fetus with essential functions similar to those of organs like the lungs, kidneys, and digestive system, including transferring oxygen and nutrients from the mother and removing waste products like carbon dioxide from the fetus. It also serves as an endocrine organ, producing hormones that maintain the pregnancy, and provides the fetus with crucial maternal antibodies for immunity.
What is delayed cord clamping and why do we do it?
Before the mid 1950s, the term early clamping was defined as umbilical cord clamping within 1 minute of birth, and late clamping was defined as umbilical cord clamping more than 5 minutes after birth. In a series of small studies of blood volume changes after birth, it was reported that 80–100 mL of blood transfers from the placenta to the newborn in the first 3 minutes after birth, and up to 90% of that blood volume transfer was achieved within the first few breaths in healthy term infants. Because of these early observations and the lack of specific recommendations regarding optimal timing, the interval between birth and umbilical cord clamping began to be shortened, and it became common practice to clamp the umbilical cord shortly after birth, usually within 15–20 seconds.
However, more recent randomized controlled trials of term and preterm infants have evaluated the effects of immediate versus delayed umbilical cord clamping (usually defined as cord clamping at least 30–60 seconds after birth). Delayed umbilical cord clamping appears to be beneficial for term and preterm infants
How is delayed cord clamping performed?
Once the baby is delivered, they are placed on your abdomen and early care of the newborn is initiated. The baby is dried and stimulated to cry and the baby is kept covered to maintain a normal temperature while skin to skin contact is carried out with the mother. Then as the scientific data suggests, after 30 to 60 seconds the umbilical cord will be clamped and cut.
Partner with the Right Doctor to Manage all Aspects of Your Delivery and Post Partum.
A safe labor and delivery for both you and your baby is our number one priority. You can also trust us to also know the latest data on the benefits of delayed cord clamping and skin to skin contact during that first hour of life for your newborn.
In the delivery room, your nurse will also assist you with the first latch if you plan to breastfeed. It’s also recommended your baby receive a vitamin K shot to help their immature liver with clotting and eye ointment to prevent a bacterial infection in the eye they could have contracted during birth.
The pediatrician will also talk to you about the first Hepatitis B vaccine in the first day of life.
Experience a Safe Pregnancy with Almara Women’s Clinic
The board-certified physicians at Almara Women’s Health know exactly how to manage delayed cord clamping at the time of your baby’s delivery.
With us, you’ll find holistic pregnancy care: nutrition and pelvic strengthening, genetic counselling, and postpartum advice.
For tailored and end-to-end pregnancy care, visit one of our 10 clinics in the Twin Cities area. Whether you’re a first-time mom, expecting twins, or dealing with a pre-existing condition, our OB-GYNs are here to guide you through what should (and can!) be a nurturing and reassuring experience.
To set up a consultation, please contact us or write to us at info@helloalmara.com.
FAQs
1. What is delayed cord clamping contraindicated?
If the baby is not vigorous at birth and requires immediate intervention by the neonatologist, delayed cord clamping should not be performed.
If you are having twins that share one placenta, delayed cord clamping should not be performed.
There are rare uses for cord blood collection and preservation at this time, but if cord blood collection is a priority for some reason, you should discuss the risks and benefits of immediate or delayed cord clamping with your doctor.
2. Do I need to ask for delayed cord clamping and specify it in my birth plan?
This practice has become a routine part of the delivery care along with skin to skin contact immediately after delivery of your baby. It is something you can expect to happen at your delivery.
3. Is there delayed cord clamping during a cesarean birth?
As long as the neonate is vigorous and there are no concerns about excessive bleeding or the integrity of the placenta a 30 – 60 second delay in clamping the cord is routine.
