Delayed versus immediate cord clamping

Research on cord clamping compares waiting before clamping with clamping soon after birth. Narrative reviews describe the effects of timing for mother and newborn, and one looks at how recommendations from leading societies relate to the physiology. Other papers discuss placental transfusion, and the physiological benefit of waiting.

Many studies focus on particular groups. A systematic review examines timing and other strategies to influence placental transfusion at preterm birth, a review covers cord clamping and cord milking in preterm infants, and a study looks at delayed clamping in small for gestational age preterm infants. A systematic review and meta-analysis looks at delayed versus early clamping at cesarean delivery. A smaller study asks about newborn oxygen saturation and sucking success.

Parents often ask what clamping timing means for their baby, and how it fits with plans such as cord blood collection. An educator may want slides that describe how timing is studied in term and preterm births and at cesarean, and that note practice can vary by setting and situation. The papers below are the ones the Hub tracks on this topic.