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The early effects of delayed cord clamping in term infants born to Libyan mothers

Emhamed, M. O., van Rheenen, P. and Brabin, Bernard (2004) 'The early effects of delayed cord clamping in term infants born to Libyan mothers'. Tropical Doctor, Vol 34, Issue 4, pp. 218-222.

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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the haematological effects of the timing of umbilical cord clamping in term infants 24 h after birth in Libya. Mother-infant pairs were randomly assigned to early cord clamping (within 10 s after delivery) or delayed clamping (after the cord stopped pulsating). Maternal haematological status was assessed on admission in the delivery room. Infant haematological status was evaluated in cord blood and 24 h after birth. Bilirubin concentration was assessed at 24 h. 104 mother-infant pairs were randomized to delayed (n = 58) or early cord clamping (n = 46). At baseline the groups had similar demographic and biomedical characteristics, except for a difference in maternal haemoglobin, which was significantly higher in the early clamping group (11.7 g/dL, SD 1.3 g/dL versus 10.9 g/dL, SD 1.6 g/dL; P = 0.0035). Twenty-four hours after delivery the mean infant haemoglobin level was significantly higher in the delayed clamping group (18.5 g/dL versus 17.1 g/dL; P = 0.0005). No significant differences were found in clinical jaundice or plethora. Surprisingly, blood analysis showed that two babies in the early clamping group had total serum bilirubin levels ( > 15 mg/dL) that necessitated phototherapy. There were no babies in the late clamping group who required phototherapy. Three infants in the delayed clamping group had polycythaemia without symptoms, for which no partial exchange transfusion was necessary. Delaying cord clamping until the pulsations stop increases the red cell mass in term infants. It is a safe, simple and low cost delivery procedure that should be incorporated in integrated programmes aimed at reducing iron deficiency anaemia in infants in developing countries.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Full text not available online at time of deposit. URL to journal is: http://td.rsmjournals.com/content/by/year Abstract available on PubMed & can be found at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15510946
Uncontrolled Keywords: iron supplementation placental transfusion leboyer childbirth blood-viscosity anemia deficiency parameters mortality childhood children
Subjects: WQ Obstetrics > Obstetric Surgical Procedures > WQ 415 Delivery (including preparatory manipulation)
WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 420 Newborn infants. Neonatology
Faculty: Department: Groups (2002 - 2012) > Child & Reproductive Health Group
Depositing User: Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited: 15 Feb 2012 11:47
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2018 13:03
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2243

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