BMJ  2006;333 (4 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7575.0-b

Delayed cord clamping reduces infant anaemia

Delayed umbilical cord clamping after delivery, combined with oxytocin administration to reduce maternal blood loss, is recommended in any resource poor setting say van Rheenen and Brabin (p 954). Meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials found that in term babies delayed cord clamping reduced infant anaemia and improved survival. In preterm babies it reduced the number of neonatal blood transfusions. The authors recommend that cord clamping should be delayed for three minutes for optimal placental transfusion and for at least 60 seconds when newborns appear distressed.


Figure 1
 Credit: JOHN HESELTINE/SPL

 


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Relevant Article

A practical approach to timing cord clamping in resource poor settings
Patrick F van Rheenen and Bernard J Brabin
BMJ 2006 333: 954-958. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Need more aspects to be studied
Dr Suresh N. Deshpande
bmj.com, 3 Nov 2006 [Full text]
Delayed clamping and milking of the umbilical cord: useful in preventing neonatal anaemia and mortality
BM Shrestha MS FRCS
bmj.com, 5 Nov 2006 [Full text]
Why not?
Céline Lemay
bmj.com, 6 Nov 2006 [Full text]
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