Vision Research shows benefits and few risks in late cutting of the umbilical cord

The most recent study of 3.9 million women and their babies showed that delayed cord cutting did not result in increased risk of bleeding or maternal hemoglobin levels in the blood, and that babies born healthier in a number of respects.

When the cut cord was delayed babies had higher levels of hemoglobin between one and two days after birth and birth less prone to iron deficiency have three to six months after delivery. Another advantage observed in the study was the increase in birth weight.

According to Philippa Middleton of the University of Adelaide (Australia), in the light of growing evidence that late clamping increases the initial concentrations of hemoglobin and iron stores in infants, a more liberal approach to delay clamping the umbilical cord of healthy babies is more guaranteed by these results.

One of the adverse effects noted in the late cutting the umbilical cord was a slight increase in the number of babies requiring treatment for jaundice. "The benefits of delayed need to be weighed against the small additional risk of jaundice in newborns. E may be particularly beneficial in locations where severe anemia is common, said Middleton.

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