When a baby comes into the world, either by natural birth or cesarean section, the clamping of the umbilical cord is usually done almost immediately, while the baby rests for a few seconds on the mother’s chest. However, a study from the University of Sydney (Australia) has found that waiting as little as 60 seconds before clamping can reduce the risk of death and disability in newborns, especially very premature babies, who are those born before the 30 weeks.
In the research, carried out in 25 hospitals in seven countries, the effects of this method on the health of 1,531 babies have been compared, where 767 were randomly assigned to late clamping (60 seconds after delivery) and the other 764 to immediate clamping (less than 10 seconds after delivery). The follow-up was carried out for more than two years.
The results, reported in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, indicate that delaying umbilical cord clamping for one minute could reduce the relative risk of death or serious disability in children during their first birth by 17%. childhood. In addition to reducing mortality by 30% before reaching two years of age.
“For every 20 very premature babies in whom clamping is delayed instead of immediate, one more will survive without significant disability”
Another of the research findings indicated that babies whose umbilical cords were clamped late required 15% fewer blood transfusions after delivery, compared to those in the early clamping group. Therefore, a small gesture of waiting just one minute could have a major impact on the entire world.
Late clamping allows adaptation to life outside the uterus
“If applied systematically around the world, the target of waiting one minute before clamping the umbilical cord in very premature babies who do not require immediate resuscitation could ensure that 50,000 more survive without major disability in the next decade. In other words, for every 20 very premature babies in whom, instead of an immediate clamping, this is delayed, one more will survive without significant disability”, explained Dr. Kristy Robledo, one of the authors of the study.
This benefit is explained because late clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term babies allows the newborn to adapt correctly to life outside the womb, although it is normal for the cord to be cut immediately in order to provide the baby with urgent medical care, especially in the case of premature babies, who often require help to start breathing.
Dr. has also exposed that “we now know that almost all very premature babies will begin to breathe on their own in the first minute, if they are given that time. We believe that after cord clamping is delayed, babies get more red and white blood cells and stem cells from the placenta, which helps achieve healthy oxygen levels, control infection and repair injured tissue.”
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