Later Clamping of Umbilical Cord Could Boost Iron and Hemoglobin Levels in Newborns

As the optimal time to 'cut the cord' has been a subject of controversy and debate for medical staff, a new study suggests that clamping a baby's umbilical cord too soon after birth can be detrimental to the child's health.

As doctor's routinely conduct the procedures less than a minute following the birth of a newborn, which was previously believed to reduce the risk of severe bleeding seen in mothers, recent research suggests that delaying clamping for a small period following the birth allows the blood to move from the placenta and helps boost iron and hemoglobin levels in newborns without increasing health risks for the mother, according to The New York Times.

In fact, research shows that children who had their cords clamped at a later period (even for a small amount of time) had higher hemoglobin levels for a period of 24 to 48 hours after birth and were less likely to be iron deficient three to six months after birth, according to the Times.

Later clamping did also not increase the mothers' risk of severe bleeding after birth, blood loss or reduced hemoglobin levels, according to the study, which was based on an analysis of data from 15 studies involving 4,000 women and infant pairs.

"In terms of a healthy start for a baby, one thing we can do by delaying cord clamping is boost their iron stores for a little bit longer," said review lead author Susan McDonald, a professor of midwifery at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, according to the Times.

However, it's important to note that delayed umbilical cord clamping has been previously linked to resuscitation efforts in newborns, especially relating to preterm infants.

More information regarding the study can be found in The Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews.