The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in vigorous term and preterm infants for at least 30–60 seconds after birth.
Delayed cord clamping offers the most benefits to preterm infants, but it also benefits full-term babies and mothers.
Delayed clamping may reduce the need for blood transfusions and improve circulation in premature babies. It helps lower the risk of bleeding in the brain and necrotizing enterocolitis, an intestinal disease that affects almost 5 to 10 percent of premature infants.
Do hospitals allow delayed cord clamping?
