The practice of delayed cord clamping (DCC) is one for which guidance has continued to evolve over time. Recent evidence suggests delaying the clamping and cutting of a newborn’s umbilical cord after birth maybe beneficial to the infant. DCC is defined as waiting 60 seconds or longer after birth before the cord is clamped and cut.
Research has shown that immediate cord clamping should be avoided and that delayed cord clamping is beneficial for both premature and term infants. DCC allows some of the blood in the placenta and umbilical cord to flow back into the baby when they are born, resulting in increased oxygen, blood and stem cells during this short period. DCC has also been shown to increase iron levels in all babies, which helps with growth and development.
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both no longer recommend immediate cord clamping as a component of active management. Current guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) is that : ‘The cord should not be clamped earlier than is necessary, based on clinical assessment of the situation.’1 The WHO states: ‘Late cord clamping (performed after 1 to 3 minutes after birth) is recommended for all births while initiating simultaneous essential newborn care.’ The WHO goes on to advise: ‘Early cord clamping (<1 minute after birth) is not recommended unless the neonate is asphyxiated and needs to be moved immediately for resuscitation.’2
According to NHS England, evidence shows that in preterm babies of less than 34 weeks gestation, delaying the clamping of the cord for a minimum of 60 seconds after birth reduces death by nearly a third. To help increase DCC across the NHS, in 2021 the National Patient Safety Team’s Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme began a new programme working with the Patient Safety Collaboratives. The programme included sharing best-practice case studies, bringing maternity teams together to learn from each other and the creation of an online resource hub. This has led to an increase from 33% to 58% of babies receiving this intervention nationally. Between April 2020 and January 2023, up to 465 babies born at less than 34 weeks gestational age potentially survived because their umbilical cord was clamped a minute or more after birth – https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/saving-pre-term-babies-lives-through-optimal-cord-management/.
To aid DCC, the Kanmed BB-Cord® optimal cord management device enables delayed code clamping in the delivery room. Exclusively available in the UK from Central Medical Supplies (CMS), Kanmed’s BB-Cord® is an innovative resuscitation table, which is specifically designed to allow newborns to receive emergency care close to their mothers. It supports zero separation, a family-centred approach that advocates the ideology that newborns should be accompanied by their parents regardless of the type of birth or health status. BB-Cord® combines cutting-edge technology with a user-friendly design, giving healthcare staff the best possible conditions in which to act quickly and efficiently in emergency situations.
For more information on Kanmed BB-Cord®, contact Tracey Pavier-Grant, Sales & Marketing Director at Central Medical Supplies, on 01538 392 596, email tracey@centralmedical.co.uk or visit www.centralmedical.co.uk.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Prevention and Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage. Green-top Guideline No. 52. London: RCOG; 2009.
- World Health Organization. WHO recommendations for the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. Geneva: WHO; 2012.
