Great Expectations Durham
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Delayed cord clamping
A 2009 Cochrane review suggests that there may be some benefit in delayed cord clamping in preterm infants not requiring resuscitation. Evidence suggests that delayed clamping of the cord for 30–120 seconds after birth in preterm infants reduces the rate of intraventricular hemorrhage, anemia and the need for transfusions. In term infants, delays of up to 180 seconds after birth have not been associated with adverse outcomes and have resulted in increased iron stores in these infants at six months of age but may increase the need for phototherapy.
References
Rabe H, Reynolds G, Diaz-Rossello J. Early versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants [Cochrane review]. In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004 Issue 4. Chichester (UK): John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2004. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003248.pub2.
Mercer JS, Vohr BR, McGrath MM, Padbury JF, Wallach M, Oh W. Delayed cord clamping in very preterm infants reduces the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and late-onset sepsis: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 2006;117(4):1235-42. Available: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=16585320.