Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping

Delayed cord clamping is defined as the umbilical cord being left alone for at least one minute, although to receive all of the benefits many prefer to delay the cord clamping until it has turned white and stopped pulsing- which could take around 10 minutes.

Benefits found for Infants:

-More blood volume; improved cardio function from more blood flow to lungs

-More placental transfer of stem cells

-Higher hemoglobin levels in first year of life (hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood)

-Higher hematocrit in first 48 hours (hematocrit is the ratio of red blood cells/total blood volume. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, iron levels are important in infancy for brain development) 

-Reduces the harmful effects of oxidative stress

-May improve long term neurodevelopment

*Potential harm: small increase in risk of light therapy for jaundice (based on an unpublished study)

Studies also show there is no risk of postpartum hemorrhage, low hemoglobin, blood transfusion, or longer third stage of labor for mothers.

**This information was found by many different studies- you can see those and learn more about delayed cord clamping at Evidence Based Birth