On the delayed clamping in a public hospital thing... I had that, as far as I know. My doula and husband both let midwives know, and I think I brought it up at some point too. Make sure your "team" know how important it is to you, and have them watching and making sure it's done. Even if the cord is clamped early, as long as it's not cut it can still be unclamped!

Where did you read delayed clamping and blood collection are mutually exclusive? I've read the opposite - you obviously don't get as much blood, but they can still collect the leftover blood once the cord had stopped pulsing. There's also the option of going halfway by clamping a little later than usual, but not letting the cord stop pulsating, and then collect it.

You do have options, I promise!