Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping

There have been a lot of proponents for delayed umbilical cord clamping after childbirth. In theory this will allow more of the baby's blood to return from the placenta into their body. It would seem that this could only help oxygenation.

However, we should always be careful in coming to conclusions not based on science, as sometimes the intuitive result can be false.

In a recent study researchers studied some 250 children who had been randomized to delayed cord clamping (at least 3 minutes after delivery) or early clamping (no more than 10 seconds) at birth. At roughly 4 years of age, children underwent tests measuring IQ and fine motor skills, and their parents reported on their behavior and social development.

Although there was no difference in IQ, they found that, in boys only, some measures of fine motor skills (e.g., drawing within a bicycle trail) and personal-social skills were significantly better in the delayed-clamping group. Boys are known to have a higher incidence of iron deficiency as infants, and this could be a reason.

But as important, there were no adverse effects; so there is no reason to discourage this in parents who prefer it.

JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(7):631-638. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0358.