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Term babies with delayed cord clamping: an approach in preventing anemia (.)
Arif Aktug Ertekin1, Nilufer Nihan Ozdemir2, Zeki Sahinoglu3
1a Department of Health Sciences , Uskudar University , Istanbul , Turkey .
Insights
Delaying umbilical cord clamping in newborns improves hematologic status and may prevent anemia. This study found higher hemoglobin and iron levels at two months in infants with delayed cord clamping.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Hematology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) is associated with improved iron stores in neonates.
- Early cord clamping (ECC) may lead to iron deficiency in infants.
- Hematologic status at birth and in early infancy is crucial for infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal hematologic status.
- To assess hematologic parameters at birth and at two months of age.
- To evaluate the potential of DCC in preventing infant anemia.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 74 infants in Group 1 (clamped within 30 seconds) and 76 in Group 2 (clamped at 90-120 seconds).
- Analysis of hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, and ferritin levels from cord blood at birth.
- Venous blood samples were analyzed at two months postpartum for the same hematologic parameters.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in cord blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, or ferritin levels between groups at birth.
- Infants in Group 2 (delayed clamping) exhibited higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, and iron levels at two months.
- Group 2 had a higher incidence of respiratory distress and required phototherapy more frequently than Group 1.
Conclusions:
- Delayed umbilical cord clamping in term infants leads to enhanced hematologic parameters by two months of age.
- DCC appears to be a beneficial strategy for preventing anemia in newborns.
- Further research may explore the optimal timing for cord clamping to balance benefits and risks.
Objective:
We investigated the effects of delayed and early clamping of the cord on the hematologic status of the baby at birth and at the end of second month.
Methods:
Umbilical cord of 74 babies were clamped in the first 30 s (Group 1) and 76 were clamped at 90-120 s (Group 2). Levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin were analyzed from the umbilical cord blood at birth and from the venous samples at the end of second month.
Results:
Hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and ferritin levels of cord blood were similar in both groups. However, their levels other than ferritin were higher in Group 2 at the end of second month. Two babies had respiratory distress and twelve neonates received phototherapy in Group 2 whereas only five neonates received phototherapy in Group 1.
Conclusion:
Term babies to whom delayed cord clamping was performed had improved hematological parameters at the end of second month. Therefore, delaying cord clamping in these babies may be a favorible approach in preventing anemia.
