Delayed cord clamping
Real benefit to the baby, and one honest trade-off.
Across 15 trials and 3,911 mother-infant pairs at term, waiting to clamp the cord rather than clamping immediately:
| Outcome | Effect of delayed clamping |
|---|---|
| Birthweight | 101 g higher (95% CI 45 to 157) |
| Infant hemoglobin at 24 to 48 hours | 1.49 g/dL higher |
| Iron deficiency at 3 to 6 months | Less than half as likely (early clamping relative risk 2.65) |
| Severe bleeding for the mother | No significant difference (relative risk 1.04) |
| Need for phototherapy for jaundice | More common with delayed clamping (relative risk 0.62 for early) |
The reviewers concluded a more liberal approach to delaying clamping is warranted, as long as treatment for jaundice is available.
Ask for it in advanceSay it at a prenatal visit and have it written down. In a busy room the default is to clamp quickly.
Where this comes from:
231. McDonald SJ, Middleton P, Dowswell T, Morris PS. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(7):CD004074.
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