When a baby is born, it's an exciting moment for all involved. But there are still some important decisions to be made in the moments after birth – one of which is when to clamp and cut the umbilical cord. While most parents may feel inclined to do this immediately following delivery, experts suggest that waiting a few minutes has many potential benefits for both mother and child. In this article, we'll discuss three of these advantages associated with delaying umbilical cord clamping.

As soon as a baby enters the world, they must now learn how to survive outside the womb on their own. During this time, having access to blood from the placenta can help them make this transition easier. This vital resource includes essential nutrients like iron along with oxygen-rich red blood cells – giving newborns a much needed boost at such a fragile stage in life. Clamping too quickly can mean depriving your little one of these critical elements right when they require them most.

Finally, delayed cord clamping also offers certain health benefits for mothers as well. When babies receive more placental blood before cutting ties with mom, research suggests it might reduce risk factors associated with postpartum hemorrhage – something no new parent wants to experience! So if you're expecting or already have welcomed your bundle of joy into the family, consider taking extra time before severing that special bond between parent and child via the umbilical cord!

Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping

Clamping the umbilical cord is a significant step in childbirth and can have long-term impacts on both mother and baby. Delayed cord clamping has many benefits that should not be overlooked; here we examine three reasons to wait before clamping the umbilical cord.

Firstly, delayed cord clamping helps promote better iron levels in newborns. By waiting for at least 30 seconds after birth to cut the cord, babies can receive more oxygenated blood from mom's placenta, which boosts their iron stores significantly. This allows infants to develop higher hemoglobin levels in their bodies, reducing the risk of anemia down the road into childhood.

Secondly, delayed cord clamping encourages healthy growth in newborns by providing additional nutrients through placental transfusion. Studies show that these unique transfers can increase birth weight and ward off potential problems such as hypoglycemia, bradycardia and respiratory distress syndrome. Allowing time for further placental transfusions may also lead to improved breastfeeding rates since it gives babies access to colostrum – mom's special milk full of antibodies - right away.

Finally, delaying cord clamping allows for longer bonding between mom and baby immediately following birth. Without rushing this process with early clamping, mothers get a chance to experience skin-to-skin contact with their infant shortly after delivery while still connected via the umbilical cord. This provides ample opportunity for moms and babies alike to share meaningful moments together even amidst all the chaos of labor and delivery!

Delaying or avoiding immediate cutting of the umbilical cord comes with several important advantages for parents looking for ways to nurture their little ones throughout pregnancy and beyond. With these numerous benefits associated with delayed cord clamping come certain risks which will be discussed next...

Risks Of Early Cord Clamping

When it comes to clamping the umbilical cord, timing is everything. A newborn’s health and wellbeing depend on when this important step occurs. Early clamping carries its own risks, making delayed clamping a far better option for both mother and baby.

The image of a pair of scissors snipping through the lifeline that connects mother and child can be jarring; however, understanding why early cord clamping must be avoided is crucial. The possible consequences include:

  • Impaired iron stores leading to anemia
  • Disrupted thermoregulation (body temperature control)
  • Difficulty transitioning from intrauterine to extra uterine life


These potential issues run the gamut from mild to severe in their effects – ranging anywhere from short-term fatigue or jaundice to long-term neurodevelopmental impairments. Additionally, as research continues into other areas such as immune system development, more complications may become apparent with early cord clamping.

Given all these considerations, delaying cord clamping until after birth offers many advantages without any known disadvantages. It's essential for parents to have access to accurate information regarding safe delay practices so they can make informed decisions about their care during labor and delivery.

How To Safely Delay Clamping The Umbilical Cord

The umbilical cord is a vital lifeline between mother and child, yet many parents opt to have the umbilical cord clamped immediately after birth. Ironically, this seemingly innocuous action could actually be harmful – so how can you safely delay clamping it?

It’s important not to rush into clamping the umbilical cord. It's best practice that both baby and mother benefit from delayed cord clamping by allowing time for placental transfusion of oxygen-rich blood as well as essential nutrients and iron stores. In addition, waiting a few minutes allows gravity to reduce the pressure in the placenta, which helps reduce bleeding at delivery.

To ensure a safe transition for your newborn, keep him or her warm during skin-to-skin contact with mom (known as “kangaroo care”). This will help maintain their temperature while stabilizing heart rate and respiratory rates. During this time, an experienced midwife should monitor both mother and baby closely, including checking blood pressures every five minutes until stabilized. This period usually lasts about fifteen minutes before considering cutting the umbilical cord if medically necessary.

In order to minimize any risks associated with early clamping of the umbilical cord, delaying for even three more minutes beyond when baby has been delivered gives them valuable extra time on the life-giving connection they shared throughout pregnancy — one last chance to receive what they need before entering into this new world!

Conclusion

In conclusion, waiting to clamp the umbilical cord is beneficial for both the baby and mother. Delayed cord clamping increases a newborn's iron stores and red blood cells, which can help prevent anemia in infancy. It also reduces risks of preterm infants developing intraventricular hemorrhage or necrotizing enterocolitis later on. Additionally, it helps ensure that a newborn receives all the placental transfusions they need while reducing their risk of needing a blood transfusion.

Research shows that delaying cord clamping by just one minute can increase hemoglobin levels in term babies by 10%. So even if you're pressed for time after delivery, taking a minute to wait before cutting the umbilical cord could be life-changing for your little one!

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The first author, Manuela Isacson called all labor departments in Sweden twice, and asked the 95 midwives about their cord clamping practice.

Now we publish the results:

INTRODUCTION The timing of cord clamping impacts children’s short- and long- term well-being. When making clinical decisions, midwives incorporate their tacit and professional knowledge, experience and current evidence. There appears to be a lack of knowledge regarding Swedish midwives’ management of the third stage of labor and cord clamping practice. The aim of this study was to explore Swedish midwives’ clinical practice concerning umbilical cord clamping and the third stage of labor in spontaneous vaginal births.
METHODS The study was designed as a cross-sectional telephone survey including 13 questions. Midwives were randomly selected from 48 births units in Sweden. Two midwives from each unit were interviewed. The primary outcome was timing of umbilical cord clamping practice in full-term infants. Secondary outcomes were the management of the third stage of labor including prophylactic use of synthetic oxytocin, the timing of cord clamping in preterm infants, controlled cord traction, uterine massage, and cord milking.
RESULTS Altogether, 95 midwives were interviewed. In full-term infants, all midwives preferred late cord clamping. Considerable heterogeneity was seen regarding the practices of synthetic oxytocin administration postpartum, controlled cord traction, uterine massage or cord milking, and cord clamping in preterm infants.
CONCLUSIONS Midwives in Sweden modify recommendations regarding delayed cord clamping in a way they might perceive as more natural and practical in their daily, clinical work. The study revealed a reluctance toward the administration of prophylactic oxytocin due to fear that the drug could pass to the infant. An overall large variation of the management of the third stage of labor was seen.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/145697
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Graphic courtesy Satyan Lakshminrusimha Graphic courtesy Satyan Lakshminrusimha

To clamp the umbilical cord more than 3 minutes after birth is essential for term newborns' health and development. Today, my most elaborate work on cord clamping yet is published, a review written together with Judith Mercer , professor in Midwifery, and the author of many important papers on cord clamping for several decades.
We hope to provide an updated, balanced text on the current "knowns and unknowns" regarding the practice of cord clamping, useful for nonprofessionals as well as midwives, obstetricians and neonatologists alike.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2021.05.002

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Curiosity. Commitment. Factfullness.
On three occasions, Hans tweeted about our research. Obviously, I was both surprised and proud that this occupied and certainly hard courted person had time to follow what we've done. Now he is deceased, lost to all of us, but especially of course for his family, friends and loved ones.
There are many who have shared their memory of Hans Rosling during the recent days, yet I cannot help but share my thoughts with you.
We are many who admire Hans and what he accomplished, from his many years of work as a doctor in Africa, his research and start-up of programs in global health and his work with Gapminder. His humanism. In all I think three words shines brightly:
Curiosity. Commitment. Factfullness.
Hans always seemed to be curious, to phenomena in the world around us, curious on people, to figure out how the earth can be better place to live. The altruistic commitment he radiated, the commitment to spread knowledge, to help people, the passion to reach out, not to gain personal benefit, but for everyone's best. And then the word that Hans is said to have coined, and he was writing a book about: factfulness. To see past our own beliefs and prejudices. The ability to see the reality that is in front of us and to base our arguments on facts and not something else.
This last has never been so important as today, when many of us so easily begin to listen to the populists and the prophets of doom, the Trumps and right extremes.
Others have written that Hans Rosling's voice was more important now than ever before. I guess what we really should say is that everyone's vote is more important than in a long time.
When similar winds as from before World War II blows cold all around us, then it is time to join Hans Rosling disciples to become apostles: Start with a good dose of humanism and add thereto Curiosity. Commitment. And perhaps above all Factfulness.
Thanks for all Hans. I will try my best to honor your memory.

Memorial fund in honor of Hans Rosling
​​​​​​​https://unicef.se/egna-insamlingar/3866-memorial-fund-in-honor-of-hans-rosling​​​​​​​

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We have published 3 papers that provide evidence why umbilical cord clamping should be delayed for 3 minutes

Photo: Kate Kennedy Photo: Kate Kennedy

In our latest study, published January 17th,
we randomized 540 children, born at a large obstetrical hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, to early (≤ 60 seconds) or delayed cord clamping (≥180 seconds). In Nepal, approximately 70 % of infants up to one year of age have anemia. Follow-up included blood samples at 8 and 12 months of age, to evaluate anemia (hemoglobin) and iron deficiency (ferritin).
 
What did we find?
At the age of 8 months the incidence of anemia was reduced by 9% among the Nepalese infants and still at 12 months of age 8% fewer infants were anemic. The children in the delayed cord clamping group generally had higher hemoglobin values, and the percentage of children who had iron deficiency at 8 months of age decreased significantly, more than 40%.

Do you want a free Fact sheet on our latest study?

Click on the button below and sign up for our newsletter. Then you'll recieve a link for the fact sheet summorizing our findings concerning delayed cord clamping and anemia.

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A delay of umbilical cord clamping by 30 seconds at elective cesarean section results in the similar iron stores as after 3 minutes delay of cord clamping in vaginally born infants, and provides better iron stores than immediate cord clamping in vaginally born infants.
 
In November 2nd, BMJ Open published our paper: 'Elective caesarean: does delay in cord clamping for 30 s ensure sufficient iron stores at 4 months of age? A historical cohort control study'

In this study we compared iron stores at 4 and 12 months of age in infants born after elective cesarean section with their umbilical cords clamped after 30 seconds with infants born vaginally and who either had their cord clamped immediately or after 3 minutes.
 
This was actually not what we had expected. Earlier research had implied that the placental transfusion after elective cesarean was rather small and should render similar iron stores as the immediately clamped vaginally born infants. This may likely be the case if the cord also is clamped immediately after CS. What was also quite surprising was that the placental transfusion seems to happen faster after CS than after vaginally birth, as 30 seconds after CS was comparable with 3 minutes after vaginally birth. This might be explained by the fact that babies born vaginally are under a normal strain and have higher blood pressure than babies after CS.
 
The paper can be read here: Andersson O, Hellström-Westas L, Domellöf M. Elective caesarean: does delay in cord clamping for 30 s ensure sufficient iron stores at 4 months of age? A historical cohort control study. BMJ Open 2016;6:e012995. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012995

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012995

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Photo courtesy to: Kate Kennedy (https://katekennedybirthphotography.com/) Photo courtesy to: Kate Kennedy (https://katekennedybirthphotography.com/)
Yesterday, December 21st, ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) started to recommend delayed cord clamping (for at least 30-60 seconds). This is an update from their earlier opinion from 2012. As a motive from changing their recommendation for term infants, the committee cites the Cochrane review from 2013, and our study on neurodevelopment published in JAMA Pediatrics 2015. They write: “At 4 years of age, children in the early umbilical cord clamping group had modestly lower scores in social and fine motor domains compared with the delayed umbilical cord clamping group”.
Of course we are very proud to have been able to provide research that has contributed to change the practice of umbilical cord clamping on term infants in US. Still, I believe that 30-60 seconds is too short time to wait, and we will be able to show evidence on this early in 2017.
 
The committees opinon follows (cited from http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Delayed-Umbilical-Cord-Clamping-After-Birth):
Recommendations
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Obstetric Practice makes the following recommendations regarding the timing of umbilical cord clamping after birth:
  • In term infants, delayed umbilical cord clamping increases hemoglobin levels at birth and improves iron stores in the first several months of life, which may have a favorable effect on developmental outcomes.
  • Delayed umbilical cord clamping is associated with significant neonatal benefits in preterm infants, including improved transitional circulation, better establishment of red blood cell volume, decreased need for blood transfusion, and lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage.
  • Given the benefits to most newborns and concordant with other professional organizations, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in vigorous term and preterm infants for at least 30–60 seconds after birth.
  • There is a small increase in the incidence of jaundice that requires phototherapy in term infants undergoing delayed umbilical cord clamping. Consequently, obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care providers adopting delayed umbilical cord clamping in term infants should ensure that mechanisms are in place to monitor and treat neonatal jaundice.
  • Delayed umbilical cord clamping does not increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
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On this date, June 17, the paper 'Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping on iron status in Mexican infants: a randomised controlled trial' by Camila M Chaparro, Lynnette M Neufeld, Gilberto Tena Alavez, Raúl Eguia-Líz Cedillo, and Kathryn G Dewey was published in Lancet 10 years ago.
For all of us that believes that delayed cord clamping is an important subject in term newborns, this study was and is very imortant. Ten years ago, it was larger and had a longer follow-up than the earlier studies, and it was also conducted in a rigorous manner scientifically. It also contributed a lot to the conclusions of the systematic reviews that were published the following years.
They ended the paper by writing: '… delayed clamping is an invaluable opportunity to increase an infant’s iron endowment at birth, thereby ensuring adequate iron status until other interventions can be more easily implemented.'
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68889-2
According to PubMed it has been cited in 262 other papers, thats some kind of achievement!

Happy anniversary!

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Yesterday I listened through a podcast on at pregnancypodcast.com about delayed cord clamping: pregnancypodcast.com/episode26/
Vanessa Merten, a mom and young professional, living in San Diego, CA, speaks in a very clear voice, has made good research and delivers a balanced information. I can really recommended it to everybody who wants to learn more about when to clamp the umbilical cord.

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