Delayed Cord Clamping and How It Helps - Shyami Sathiaseelan
Image Source When a mother on the verge of labor asks us for a last minute checklist of things to do the first thing I remind them of is delayed cord clamping. What is Delayed Cord Clamping? WHO states clamping the cord at least one minute after the birth as delayed cord clamping for all births. But the general belief by some practitioners is that we should wait for 3 to 5 minutes or wait till the cord stops pulsating. Some of them even think it is better not to clamp or cut the cord till the placenta is delivered. But all of them agree on one thing, that delaying the cord clamping to some extent is definitely beneficial to the baby. So why delay the clamping? We have seen that everyone agrees on waiting for somewhere between one minute and till the cord stops pulsating or even the placenta is delivered. But why delay? What are the advantages? 1. Decreased risk of Anemia . According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, research shows