Cutting the Cord

To many parents, cutting the umbilical cord may seem like an afterthought following childbirth. But the right time for cutting the cord is getting more attention. Waiting to clamp the umbilical cord may benefit baby.

After a baby is born, the health care provider usually clamps the umbilical cord within a minute, then cuts it. Researchers from the University of South Florida suggest a number of reasons to hold off a bit.

Waiting to clamp the cord can allow more blood to flow from the placenta into the infant. The researchers cite studies that found a number of benefits for premature babies from delaying clamping for 30 seconds to a minute. For example, it may reduce the need for transfusions and may improve the supply of oxygen to the brain.

Waiting longer also allows more stem cells to flow into the baby’s body. Stem cells play an important role in the development of many organs, and the loss of these cells at birth could affect babies’ later development, the researchers write. As a result, the researchers recommend that delayed cord clamping be considered in babies when it’s safe to do so.