Guest post by Lesley N. Bevan, MD, Metropolitan OB/GYN

Great news! By simply waiting to clamp the umbilical cord of your newborn baby, your obstetrician can decrease the risk of iron deficiency anemia in infancy and childhood for your child. This is important because iron deficiency anemia has been linked to impaired cognitive, behavioral, and motor development.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), delayed cutting enables more blood to flow from the placenta to the newborn, which significantly increases the infant’s blood volume. This eases the transition from womb to world and aids the lungs in the exchange of oxygen.

Infants who come to term and experience delayed umbilical cord clamping show improved iron stores in the first several months of life. (Believe it or not, infant iron deficiency is still present quite common, even in developed countries. Between 5 and 25 percent of babies are born anemic.)

Reputable organizations around the world recommend keeping the umbilical cord attached anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. ACOG recommends at least 30-60 seconds before clamping.

One thing to note, however, ACOG does report there is a small increase in the incidence of jaundice that requires phototherapy in term infants who undergo delayed umbilical cord clamping. In one study, the rate of jaundice requiring phototherapy increased from 2.8 percent to 4.4 percent, so all babies should be monitored closely by their pediatrician during the first few days of life.

Pre-term infants see significant benefit

In pre-term babies, there are several medical benefits to delayed clamping which can greatly affect the baby’s long-term development, such as decreased rates of intraventricular hemorrhage and transfusions. Premature infants also benefit from better blood pressure, less bleeding to the brain, and lower risk for necrotizing entercolitis (bowel damage that can be fatal). Small reductions in these morbidities of pre-term delivery are significant for these babies and their families.

Again, the delayed cutting enables more blood to flow from the placenta to the newborn, which significantly increases the infant’s blood volume. This eases the transition from womb to world and aids the lungs in the exchange of oxygen.

Very little risk to the mother

Traditionally, one reason the umbilical cord was cut within 10-15 seconds of birth was concern for possible hemorrhaging in the mother. Today, we have evidence supported by ACOG that delayed umbilical cord clamping is not associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage or increased blood loss during delivery.

Mother-baby skin to skin touch is still possible

There’s more good news: Immediate skin to skin contact and care can still happen even with delayed cord clamping. We used to think that the baby needed to be held close to the vagina for gravity to help the blood flow. Now we understand that the baby can rest on the mother’s chest or abdomen and still receive the appropriate transfer of umbilical cord blood. Immediate contact of baby and mother helps the baby stay warm, promotes maternal-infant bonding, and can affect breastfeeding success.

Learn more at our website: www.metroobgyn.com. To make an appointment online, visit Metropolitan OBGYN or call us at 303-320-8499.


 About Lesley Bevan, MD
By her third year in medical school, Lesley Bevan, MD, realized the amazing privilege it is to provide compassionate medical care to women over their lifetime. She earned her degree, summa cum laude, from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Her love of obstetrics and gynecology took her to Northwestern University Prentice Women’s Hospital for residency training. Outside of work, her greatest joy (and challenge) is rearing three spirited children – two boys and a little girl. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bevan, visit www.metroobgyn.com.