A care pathway: delayed active management of the third stage of labour

Challenging the current National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines (NICE 2007), this paper will identify and discuss the evidence to support a care pathway for delayed active management of the third stage of labour, which promotes a delay in the administration of the uterotonic drug and delayed cord clamping (DCC). Current evidence highlights that clamping and cutting the umbilical cord once pulsation has ceased allows the baby to receive additional blood from the placenta, which in turn increases the baby's blood volume and significantly reduces instances of anaemia. The research available to support DCC and the benefits this provides to the newborn with little adverse effect to the mother could possibly be enough to change current practice to create Delayed Active Management as a third stage option for women.