Women and Birth
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 165-170 , December 2008

The importance of delayed cord clamping for *Aboriginal babies: A life-enhancing advantage

  • Rosemary Weckert

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Midwifery, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
    • ,
  • Heather Hancock

      Affiliations

    • University of South Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 8 83022355.

Received 10 July 2008 ,Revised 3 September 2008 ,Accepted 4 September 2008.

References 

  1. Hutton E, Hassan E. Late versus early clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term neonates, systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. JAMA. 2007;297:1241–1242
  2. Pisacane A. Neonatal prevention of iron deficiency: placental transfusion is a cheap and physiological solution. BMJ. 1996;312:136–137
  3. Blackburn S. Maternal, fetal & neonatal physiology a clinical perspective. St. Louis: Saunders; 2003;
  4. Myles M. Textbook for midwives. 9th ed.. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1981;
  5. Enkin M, Keirse M, Neilson J, Crowther C, Duley L, Hodnett E, et al. A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth. 3rd ed.. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000;
  6. McDonald S, Abbott J, Higgins S. Prophylactic ergometrine-oxytocin versus oxytocin for the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000201. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000201.pub2, http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD000201/frame.html; 2004 [accessed online 29.11.07].
  7. Buckley S. Lotus birth a ritual for our times. http://www.pregnancy.com.au/lotus_birth_a_ritual_for_our_times.htm; 2002 [retrieved online 29.11.07].
  8. Pearson S. Lotus birth, unassisted pregnancy & childbirth Australia. http://www.purebirth-australia.com/lotusbirth/sam_lotusbirth.html; 2008 [retrieved online, 20.6.08].
  9. Lozoff B, De Andraca I, Castillo M, Smith J, Walter T, Pino P. Behavioral and developmental effects of preventing iron-deficiency anemia in healthy full-term infants. Pediatrics. 2003;112(4):846–854
  10. Kruske S, Ruben A, Brewster D. An iron treatment trial in an Aboriginal community: improving non-adherence. Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health. 1999;35:153–158
  11. Grajeda R, Perez-Escamilla R, Dewey K. Delayed clamping of the umbilical cord improves hematologic status of Guatemalan infants at 2 months of age. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997;65:425–431
  12. Mercer J. Current best evidence: a review of the literature on umbilical cord clamping. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 2001;46(6):402–414
  13. Van Rheenen P, Brabin J. A practical approach to timing cord clamping in resource poor settings. BMJ. 2006;333:954–958
  14. LeBoyer F. Birth without violence. Sydney: Rigby; 1974;
  15. Bobak I, Jensen M. Essentials of maternity nursing. USA: Mosby; 1984;
  16. Vulliamy D. The newborn child. 5th ed.. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1982;
  17. Usher R, Shephard M, Lind J. The blood volume of the newborn infant and placental transfusion. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica. 1963;52:497–512
  18. Linderkamp O, Nelle M, Kraus M, Zilow E. The effect of early and late cord clamping on blood viscosity and other hemorheological parameters in full-term neonates. Acta Paediatrica. 1992;81:745–750
  19. Nelle M, Zilow E, Bastert G, Linderkamp O. Effect of Leboyer childbirth on cardiac output, cerebral and gastrointestinal blood flow velocities in full-term neonates. American Journal of Perinatology. 1995;12:212–216
  20. Yao A, Lind J. Effect of gravity on placental transfusion. Lancet. 1969;2:505–508
  21. Yao A, Moinian M, Lind J. Distribution of blood between the infant and placenta at birth. Lancet. 1969;2:871–873
  22. Kunzel W. Cord clamping at birth—considerations for choosing the right time (author's translation, article in German). Geburtshilfe Perinatology. 1982;186(2):59–64
  23. Mercer J, Skovgaard R. Neonatal transitional physiology: a new paradigm. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing. 2002;15(4):56–75
  24. Weeks A. Umbilical cord clamping after birth. BMJ. 2007;335:312–313
  25. Chaparro C, Nuefeld L, Tena Alavez G, Eguia-Liz Cedillo R, Dewey K. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping on iron status in Mexican infants: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 1997;367:1997–2004
  26. Gupta R, Ramji S. Effect of delayed cord clamping on iron stores in infants born to anemic mothers: a randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatrics. 2002;39(2):30–35
  27. Emhamed M, van Rheenen P, Brabin B. The early effects of delayed cord clamping in term infants born to Libyan mothers. Tropical Doctor. 2004;34(4):218–222
  28. Lozoff B. Perinatal iron deficiency and the developing brain. Pediatric Research. 2000;48:137–139
  29. Lozoff B, Klein N, Nelson E, McClish D, Manuel M, Chacon M. Behavior of infants with iron deficiency anemia. Child Development. 1998;69:24–36
  30. McDonald S, Middleton P. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004074. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004074.pub2. http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004074/frame.html; 2008 [retrieved 29.6.08].
  31. Wardrop C, Holland B. The roles and vital importance of placental blood to the newborn infant. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 1995;23:139–143
  32. Ibrahim H, Krouskop R, Lewis D, Dhanireddy R. Placental transfusion: umbilical cord clamping and preterm infants. Journal of Perinatology. 2000;20(6):351–354
  33. Rabe H, Reynolds G, Diaz-Rossello J. Early versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Issue 4, Art. No.: CD003248. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003248.pub2 http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD003248/pdf_fs.html; 2004 [Accessed online 29.11.07].
  34. International Confederation of Midwives and International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, Joint Statement Management of the Third Stage of Labour to Prevent Post-partum Haemorrhage; 2003.
  35. Wiberg N, Kallen K, Olofsson P. Delayed umbilical cord clamping at birth has effects on arterial and venous blood gases and lactate concentrations. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008;115:697–703
  36. Faxelius G, Raye J, Gutberlet R, Swanstrom S, Tsiantos A, Dolanski E, et al. Red cell volume measurements and acute blood loss in high-risk infants. Pediatrics. 1977;90(2):273–281
  37. Linderkamp O, Versmold H, Messow-Zahn K, Müller-Holve K, Riegel K, Betke K. The effect of intra-partum asphyxia on placental transfusion in premature and full-term infants. European Journal of Pediatrics. 1978;127:91–99
  38. Cashmore J, Usher R. Hypovolemia resulting from a tight nuchal cord at birth. Pediatric Research. 1973;7:339
  39. Shrestha B. Rapid response to: delayed cord clamping reduces infant anaemia. BMJ 2006;333 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/333/7575/0-b#147269 [retrieved online 29.11.07].
  40. Mercer J, Erickson-Owens D. Delayed cord clamping increases infants’ iron stores. The Lancet. 2006;367(9527):1956–1957
  41. Cernadas C, Carroli J, Pellegrini L, Otano L, Ferreira M, Ricci C, et al. The effect of timing of cord clamping on neonatal venous hematocrit values and clinical outcome at term: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2006;117(4):e779–786
  42. Middleton P, Tooher R, Crowther C. Postpartum Haemorrhage Synthesis, Research Gaps from Cochrane Reviews (Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2008) Women and Babies Health and Wellbeing: Action through Trials (WOMBAT). http://www.wombatcollaboration.net/doc/Third_stage_labour_management_synthesis.pdf [retrieved 26.7.08].

☆ For the purposes of consistency the title Aboriginal is respectfully used in this paper to be inclusive of the title Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

PII: S1871-5192(08)00081-4

doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2008.09.004

Women and Birth
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 165-170 , December 2008

Article Tools