The birth of a child is a beautiful, miraculous event. As part of the process, many decisions need to be made, including the question of when to clamp the umbilical cord. However, what are the benefits of delayed cord clamping for preterm babies? Recently, research has highlighted the potential benefits of delayed cord clamping, particularly for preterm infants. In this blog post, we’ll explore the impact of delayed cord clamping and how it can help preterm infants thrive.

Understanding Delayed Cord Clamping
Delayed cord clamping refers to a procedure that involves holding off on severing the umbilical cord right after childbirth. Rather than an immediate cut, the cord is left connected for an interval generally lasting from half a minute to several minutes. During this time, blood continues to circulate from the placenta to the newborn. This delay is especially advantageous for preterm babies who may benefit from this extra assistance.
Boosting Blood Volume
A common issue among preterm infants is a lower blood volume compared to their full-term counterparts. The practice of delayed cord clamping can significantly ameliorate this issue by allowing additional time for blood to transfer from the placenta to the newborn. This process can augment the infant’s blood volume by up to 33%, fostering numerous health advantages. An elevated blood volume can bolster cardiac performance, ensuring that the heart efficiently pumps blood throughout the body. Moreover, it can also improve the delivery of oxygen—a vital life-sustaining element—to all essential organs, promoting overall well-being.
Reducing the Need for Blood Transfusions
Preterm infants, due to their lower blood volume, often require blood transfusions. However, these procedures are not without their potential downsides, which include possible reactions and infections. The practice of delayed cord clamping can help alleviate this necessity. By allowing more time for the placenta to transfer blood to the newborn, a higher blood volume can be achieved. This additional volume decreases the likelihood of requiring a transfusion, therefore minimizing the risks associated with such procedures. In effect, delayed cord clamping contributes to the safer post-birth care of preterm infants.
Increasing Iron Stores
An additional advantage of delayed cord clamping is the increased transmission of iron from the placenta to the infant. Iron plays a crucial role in several developmental processes, including brain growth and the formation of the nervous system. It’s also integral for the creation of hemoglobin, the protein within red blood cells responsible for oxygen transportation. Adequate iron levels can help stave off iron-deficiency anemia, a condition frequently seen in preterm infants. Hence, by delaying cord clamping, healthcare providers can ensure that the baby receives sufficient iron, supporting their healthy growth and development.
Enhancing Circulatory Stability
One significant advantage of delayed cord clamping is its role in promoting circulatory stability. It does so by providing the infant with an additional amount of blood, which aids in maintaining a steady blood pressure—a critical factor in the infant’s overall health. More importantly, this stability decreases the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage, a form of brain bleed that is common among preterm babies. Another related benefit is the reduction in the risk of intestinal complications, like necrotizing enterocolitis—a severe problem often encountered by preterm infants. By stabilizing the circulation, delayed cord clamping thus plays a substantial part in averting major health issues in preterm infants.
Weighing the Risks and Benefits
While delayed cord clamping presents numerous advantages for preterm infants, it’s essential to acknowledge the potential risks. A slight possibility exists that this procedure could result in polycythemia, a condition characterized by overly thick blood that could potentially slow down circulation or induce jaundice. However, it is important to balance these potential risks against the array of significant benefits. The practice aids in enhancing blood volume, iron absorption, and circulatory stability in these fragile infants, often outweighing the potential for complications. Thus, while not devoid of risks, delayed cord clamping generally presents a beneficial approach for most preterm infants.