What is delayed cord clamping?
Delayed cord clamping is the practice of letting your newborn’s umbilical cord pulse by postponing cutting the cord instead of immediately cutting it after birth. The timing of umbilical cord clamping is a personal decision that should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Why would my healthcare provider consider delayed cord clamping?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a delay in cord clamping for at least 30-60 seconds.1 Some evidence exists to support delayed cord clamping in preterm infants (<37 weeks), when feasible.2 The decision on delaying clamping longer than 30-60 seconds is one that you should discuss with your healthcare provider.
Will delayed clamping affect the number of cord blood stem cells collected?
Regardless of whether you and your healthcare provider elect to delay clamping, you can still collect cord blood after the umbilical cord is clamped. However, the amount of cord blood collected may be less if cord clamping is delayed. Every effort should always be made to collect as much cord blood as possible after clamping.
At ViaCord if a cord blood sample doesn’t reach a minimum threshold, you’ll be notified and you can decide to continue storing or not.
Does delayed cord clamping impact cord tissue banking?
More and more families are choosing cord tissue banking as well as cord blood banking, because the tissue of the umbilical cord contains different types of stem cells than cord blood does. Cord tissue is collected after the cord blood has been collected so there is no impact the collection of cord tissue.
References:
- Committee Opinion No. 684: Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth. Obstet Gynecol 2017 Jan; 129:e5-10.
- Committee Opinion No. 543: Timing of Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Dec; 120(6):1522-6. PubMed PMID:23168790.
