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Expert: Umbilical Cord Clamping Should be Delayed

By Danell Swim
February 4, 2008

 So Dr Andrew Weeks, a senior lecturer in obstetrics at the University of Liverpool, looked at the evidence behind cord clamping.

At birth, he says, the umbilical cord sends oxygen-rich blood to the lungs until breathing establishes. So as long as the cord is unclamped, the average transfusion to the newborn is equivalent to 21% of the neonate’s final blood volume and three quarters of the transfusion occurs in the first minute after birth.

For babies born at term, the main effect of this large autotransfusion is to increase their iron status. This may be lifesaving in areas where anaemia is endemic.

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Written by Danell Swim · Filed Under Newborn Health 

Comments

One Response to “Expert: Umbilical Cord Clamping Should be Delayed”

  1. Melissa Jane Cesaria Montoya on July 12th, 2008 5:53 am

    I have been saying this for years. Now to get NRP to drop it from their procedure.

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