Is Delayed Cord Clamping Right for You?

Preparing for your baby’s arrival is an exciting time, and it’s also a time to put the final touches on your birth plan. For many parents, that means deciding whether to make delayed cord clamping part of that process. 

As a leading Texas obstetrician, Richard Roberts, MD, offers delayed cord clamping for patients at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe, In this post, learn more about the potential benefits of delayed cord clamping, as well as some other important considerations to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you and your baby.

Benefits of delayed cord clamping

The umbilical cord connects your baby to your placenta, the source of nourishment before birth. Traditionally, the umbilical cord was cut immediately after delivery, but in delayed cord clamping, the cord remains attached for up to 3-5 minutes after birth. The delay allows your baby to continue to receive nutrients from the placenta, a process that researchers say can offer some notable benefits.

First, cord clamping increases iron delivery to your newborn. Iron helps red blood cells form, reducing the risk of anemia that can lead to delays in growth and development. Delayed cord clamping increases iron stores, a benefit that lasts for months after birth.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says delayed cord clamping also improves circulation in the first few moments of life, increasing oxygen levels and blood volume while decreasing the need for blood transfusions. It also reduces the risk of serious complications and supports optimal heart and respiratory health and function.

While the full long-term benefits of delayed cord clamping are still being studied, researchers believe it could reduce the risk of developmental delays, cognitive deficits, and even chronic diseases. Those benefits apply to preterm babies, too.

Deciding if it’s right for you

Cord clamping offers a plethora of benefits for most newborns without causing complications for the mother or the baby. Still, some potential issues could influence your decision of whether or not to include it in your birth plan.

Data show there’s a small risk of jaundice when cord clamping is performed in newborns whose livers aren’t fully capable of processing a substance called bilirubin. The extra red blood cells delivered through the umbilical cord after birth could increase bilirubin levels and cause jaundice. Fortunately, this type of jaundice usually clears up fairly quickly on its own, but it’s something you might want to discuss with Dr. Roberts.

Cord clamping also may not be ideal if you have a high-risk pregnancy that could cause medical complications at the time of delivery. Some complications require immediate medical intervention, meaning there may not be time for cord clamping to occur.

Find out more about delayed cord clamping

You may have already decided whether or not to make delayed cord clamping part of your birth plan, but if you still have questions, we can help. To put the final touches on your own birth plan or to learn more about the pros and cons of delayed cord clamping, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, today.