Delayed cord clamping, or DCC, following labor and delivery is a practice that has become standard of care at many hospitals, including Women & Babies Hospital. Endorsed by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, delayed cord clamping can be very beneficial to both premature and full-term babies alike. Here’s what to know about delayed cord clamping after delivering your baby.
What Is Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping is the practice of waiting a bit after delivery to clamp and cut your newborn’s umbilical cord. The cord clamp helps to stop blood flow from the three blood vessels that travel from the placenta through the umbilical cord, and the cord is then cut close to baby’s bellybutton.
In the past, babies’ umbilical cords were typically clamped and cut immediately upon birth. But now DCC is more and more widely practiced in hospitals around the world. While the term "delayed cord clamping" might seem to indicate a long amount of time, clamping the umbilical cord only needs to be delayed for 30-60 seconds after birth in order to benefit your baby.
Delayed cord clamping is possible after any kind of birth, whether vaginal or C-section. And, the great news is that your little one can still be placed immediately on your chest for skin-to-skin contact before the cord is clamped and cut.
What Are the Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping?
There are a number of benefits of delayed cord clamping that can vary between term and preterm newborns. In all cases, DCC allows more blood to transfer from mama’s placenta to their baby by up to a third. This increases iron stores which is vital for your little one’s brain development.
Benefits of delayed cord clamping in full-term infants include:
- Decreased risk of anemia
- Increased hemoglobin levels
- Improved iron stores in first few months of life
Benefits of delayed cord clamping in preterm infants include:
- Improved transitional circulation
- Better establishment of red blood cell volume
- Decreased need for blood transfusions
- Lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (a severe complication within the intestines in premature babies)
- Lower incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (a bleed in baby’s brain)
Are There Any Risks to Delayed Cord Clamping?
The most common risk of delayed cord clamping is that the increased blood volume has the potential to lead to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice, in your baby. Since all babies at Women & Babies Hospital are tested for jaundice, this condition would be identified and treated right away.
Delayed cord clamping does not to lead to a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage or increased blood loss in the mother.
While delayed cord clamping is possible for many mamas and their babies, your provider may not perform delayed cord clamping in certain situations in order to ensure the immediate health of a woman and her baby, including:
- Pregnant people with abnormal placentas
- Those experiencing postpartum hemorrhage
- Babies born needing immediate medical care
If you have any questions about delayed cord clamping, we recommend speaking to your provider at your next appointment. They’ll be able to talk to you about the risks and benefits of DCC based on your pregnancy and health history, and indicate whether it can be used after your baby is born.