Hi,

Dr Sarah Buckley's "Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering" discusses the bolus of blood that the placenta delivers to the baby just after birth - boosts baby's blood by a third. I believe this happens within 3 minutes or so of the birth. This extra blood at birth helps the baby's body to deal with the new challenge of breathing, temp regulation etc.

But if one has the syntocinon shot after birth which causes the uterus to contract and expel the placenta, the cord needs to be clamped quickly otherwise the baby can receive *too* much blood.