delayed cord clamping and epidrual

[Schmickers]

I spoke to the Ob about this today and he told me that there are new studies that show that cord clamping may be detrimental to the baby. He didn't say much more so I was wondering if anyone had any idea what these "new studies" might be and what they said? It's so confusing, I never know if Im getting all the information or not from either side, I just want to know whats best for my baby!

I would go so far as to say that what your Ob has told you is not in fact true. I've followed the research fairly closely in recent years and there is not any new research I am aware of that indicates that there is any detriment to the baby.

For your own research, I have posted some links to a number of articles below, based on a brief Google Scholar search for recent research on "delayed cord clamping". All published in the last 4 years:

1. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of a Brief Delay in Clamping the Umbilical Cord of Preterm Infants
2. [Delayed cord clamping in the interest of the newb...[Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2008] - PubMed Result
3. The Influence of the Timing of Cord Clamping on Postnatal Cerebral Oxygenation in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized, Controlled Trial -- Baenziger et al. 119 (3): 455 -- Pediatrics
4. A randomized clinical trial comparing immediate versus delayed clamping of the umbilical cord in preterm infants: short-term clinical and laboratory endpoints
5. Delayed cord clamping or immediate cord clamping?: A literature review

...the last one being the most telling.

I would strongly encourage you to push for delayed cord clamping. The research is clearly in favour of it, despite what your OB has said; given that there is so much favourable research about delayed clamping, it would have to be some pretty significant "new studies" to be able to overturn all that!