Article: Delaying cord clamping reduces anemia

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Delaying cord clamping reduces anemia
Source: Pediatrics 2006; 117: e779-86

Investigating the effects of the timing of cord clamping on neonatal venous hematocrit.

Delaying cord clamping may lower rates of anemia in newborns, results of a randomized controlled trial suggest.

Although the umbilical cord is usually clamped immediately after birth, there is no evidence to support this approach, and it may even deprive the newborn of some benefits, say José Ceriani Cernadas (Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina) and co-workers.

To find out, they assessed the effects of clamping the umbilical cord within the first 15 seconds (group 1), 1 minute (group 2), and 3 minutes (group 3) of birth in a study of 276 neonates born at two obstetrical units in Argentina. The infants were delivered at term without complications.

Delaying cord clamping increased the venous hematocrit value—the relative volume of blood occupied by red blood cells—in the babies at 6 hours of life within the physiologic range (53.5 percent, 57.0 percent, and 59.4 percent in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Anemia, defined as a venous hematocrit value lower than 45 percent, was significantly less common in groups 2 and 3 than group 1.

Cernadas et al say delaying clamping should be implemented to increase neonatal iron storage at birth.

Iron deficiency in early life has been linked to cognitive impairment, and anemia is one of the most serious childhood conditions, especially in the developing world.

Posted: 24 April 2006

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That's interesting, but can you ask the OB to wait to cut the cord if you have a c-section?

Some will do it, most don't unfortunately. You just need to make sure you find the right Ob ;)

We left Tehya attached to the cord til it stopped beating around 20 minutes later. She was so pink for the next few days because of all the extra blood.

Makes you wonder doesn't it. They tell us how precious cord blood is to babies, some even encouraging us to bank it, but then on the other side they are cutting of all the extra nutrients our babies could and should get just to hurry us up in delivery.


Take care
Trish

I'm interested in delayed cord clamping. I've always thought that if stem cell blood is so precious that we freeze and store it, it must be good for the baby!

But what are my chances of having that done in a private hospital? I dont know why, but I'm really sceptical when it comes to hospitals. Do you think they'll let me delay clamping? If they dont, should I pay to have it stored?

I've also heard there is a risk of the baby getting too much blood, or Mum's blood mixing with bub's. Has anyone else heard of this, or is it all a wives tale?

Cheers,
Mel
:)