Mahesan Subramaniam: Why Delayed Cord Clamping Benefits Newborn Health
Mahesan Subramaniam, Co-Founder of United Health Tourism, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is the practice of waiting between 30 seconds and several minutes before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after birth.
Traditionally, cords were clamped within 10-20 seconds, but modern medical guidelines are finally catching up with holistic practices and it is now recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to delay the cord clamping for a minimum of 30-60 seconds for most newborns.
For babies born at 37 weeks or later, the primary advantages focus on iron stores and early developmental support.
Waiting allows for ‘placental transfusion’ where up to one-third of the baby’s total blood volume is transferred from the placenta.
This provides enough iron to significantly reduce the risk of iron-deficiency anemia for up to the first six months of life.
Higher iron levels also support healthy brain development.
Some research indicates that children who had DCC show improved fine motor and social skills at age 4 compared to those who had immediate clamping.
Furthermore, the additional blood flow includes a high concentration of antibodies and stem cells, which are essential for building a strong immune system and repairing tissues.
There are also critical benefits for preterm babies.
Babies born before 37 weeks see the most life-saving benefits from DCC.
The extra blood volume helps stabilize blood pressure and improves the transition from the womb to breathing on their own.
DCC is also associated with a lower incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), a serious complication for preemies.
It also reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening intestinal condition.
Because they start with a higher red blood cell count, these babies are less likely to need medical blood transfusions later.
Unfortunately, if the infant needs immediate resuscitation or if the mother is bleeding heavily (postpartum hemorrhage), immediate clamping is usually necessary to prioritize urgent medical care.”
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