[Impact of cord blood donation on postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal outcomes]

Umbilical cord blood donations has increased worldwide, raising concerns about maternal and neonatal safety. This study aims to evaluate its impact on postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion requirements, and duration of delivery, placental retention, and neonatal outcomes.

A prospective observational study was conducted at Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (Valencia, Spain) between November 2009 and February 2015. Eligible participants were adult women with = 37 weeks´ gestation, low obstetric risk, and single spontaneous labor. Cord blood donation was voluntary. Maternal variables analyzed included blood loss, hemoglobin and hematocrit decline, need for transfusion, length of labor, and placental retention. Neonatal variables included umbilical pH and Apgar test.

A total of 144 women were included (73 donors). Donors had a longer interval from delivery to the end of suturing (30.69±16.37 vs. 22.91±12.19 minutes; p<0.001), and of delivery (11.11±10.05 vs. 7.99±5.92 minutes; p=0.10), No significant differences were observed in hemodynamic variables, placental retention, or manual placental extraction. There were no significant differences in blood loss or need for transfusion, although the two transfusions in the donor group were associated with placental retention requiring manual placental extraction and uterine atony. Neonatal outcomes did not differ between groups.

Umbilical cord blood donation does not increase maternal risk of transfusion, duration of delivery, or manual retention or removal of the placenta, and it does not adversely affect neonatal outcomes.