Don’t clamp the umbilical cord before 1 minute in neonates that do not need immediate resuscitation manouvres.

Type of practice

Other treatments

Topic Area

In term and preterm neonates that don’t need immediate resuscitation manouvres the umbilical cord should be clamped after 1 minute from birth or when it stops pulsating. Delayed cord clamping increases birth weight and haemoglobin levels in neonates. Iron deposits are increased up to 6 months after birth.

Sources

1. McDonald SJ, Middleton P, Dowswell T, Morris PS. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7.
2. Clamping of the umbilical cord and placental transfusion. RCOG Sc I Paper No.14, 2009.
3. Guidelines on Basic Newborn Resuscitation, World Health Organization 2012.

Attention. Please note that these items are provided only for information and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a clinician. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their clinician.