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Published on: June 6, 2020
Umbilical cord milking in term infants delivered by cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
D A Erickson-Owens1, J S Mercer, W Oh
1University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing, Kingston, RI, USA.
Objective:
The study's objective was to compare hematocrit (Hct) levels at 36 to 48 h of age in term infants delivered by cesarean section exposed to immediate cord clamping or umbilical cord milking (UCM).
Study Design:
In this randomized controlled trial, 24 women scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomized to either immediate clamping (<10 s) or UCM (milked × 5 by the obstetrical provider) at birth.
Result:
All subjects received their allocated intervention. The milking group had a smaller placental residual blood volume (13.2±5.6 vs 19.2±5.4 ml kg(-1), P=0.01) and higher Hct levels at 36 to 48 h (57.5±6.6 vs 50.0±6.4 %, P=0.01). Five infants (42%) in the immediate group had a Hct of ≤47%, indicative of anemia.
Conclusion:
UCM results in placental transfusion in term infants at the time of elective cesarean section with higher Hct levels at 36 to 48 h of age.
