Home            Past Issues            About IP            About IAP           Author Information            Subscription            Advertisement              Search  

   
Eureca

Indian Pediatr 2011;48: 123-129

Timing of Umbilical Cord Clamping in Term and Preterm Deliveries and Infant and Maternal Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials


Joseph L Mathew

Advanced Pediatrics Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
Email: [email protected]
 
 


Relevance

Active management of the third stage of labor (comprising administration of a uterotonic agent, cord clamping and cutting, and controlled cord traction) has supplanted the ‘physiological’ (non-interventionist) approach [1]; as a consequence the umbilical cord is usually clamped soon after delivery of the baby. The observation that the cord can contain up to 20 mL of blood [2] raised the possibility of delaying clamping to allow placental transfusion to the baby. One of the major advantages could be to increase the circulating volume and hemoglobin level. The benefits of the former include less respiratory distress and reduced need for later transfusions [3,4]. Increasing the hemoglobin level and iron stores is attractive because anemia in early infancy is a frequent problem, especially in developing countries. However these potential benefits need to be balanced against possible harmful effects, for the mother (postpartum hemorrhage and its consequences) [1,5,6] and infant (delayed resuscitation, hypothermia, polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia and risk of intraventricular hemorrhage). The issue is complicated by the fact that term babies, preterm babies and very premature babies could behave as different cohorts, making it difficult to develop an empiric guideline for timing of cord clamping across all gestations.

This systematic review explores the question: Does delayed cord clamping (intervention) at delivery, improve maternal and infant (population), short-term and long-term outcomes (outcome), compared to early cord clamping (comparator)?

Current Best Evidence

An exhaustive literature search was undertaken in September 2010, for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing delayed cord clamping (DCC) defined as >30 seconds following delivery, versus early cord clamping (ECC) defined as within 30 seconds of delivery; reporting maternal and/or infant outcomes. The final updated search on 16 December 2010 in the Cochrane Library (search term "cord clamp" and filter "Record title") yielded 3 Cochrane systematic reviews (CSR), 5 other systematic reviews, and 71 trials. Medline search on the same date (search term: cord clamping; limits: randomized controlled trial, meta-analysis) yielded 137 citations. The available systematic reviews [7-12] were either outdated and/or had methodological limitations.

A total of 57 publications were short-listed as potentially relevant. Thirty were excluded for the following reasons: not RCT comparing DCC vs ECC (n=6), RCT but intervention in either arm not according to definition of DCC or ECC (n=4), RCT but intervention in control arm not described (n=1), outcome not of interest (n=2), publications as editorials, correspondence or commentaries (n=6), outdated systematic reviews (n=6), only abstract available without data (n=5). Overall, 29 trial reports - 15 in term and 14 in preterm deliveries comprise current best evidence (Table I); this includes two additional trials identified through searching of bibliography of short-listed publications [23] and recent conference proceedings [27].

Table I 



Summary of Included RCTs 
Setting [Ref] Participants DCC ECC Outcomes
    n, timing of clamping n, timing of clamping  
Term Deliveries
Argentina [13] >37 wk 92, >150 sec; 93, <20 sec
91, 45-75 sec
Hct (6h,24-48h), PC, PC requiring ET, HB, Bil>16mg/ dl, Maternal blood loss, Maternal Hct, multiple neonatal morbidities 
Argentina [14] >37 wk 83, >150 sec; 83, 45-75 sec 86, <20 sec Ferritin at 6mo, Mean Hb, Hb<10.5g/dl
Mexico [15] >37 wk 237, 2 min 239,  <20 sec Hct, clinical HB, Hb, PC, Hct (6mo, Ferritin (6mo), Total iron (6mo), maternal blood loss
Libya [16] 37-42 wk 58, ACCP 46, <10 sec Hct, Hb, PC, HB, hyperviscosity, maternal Hct, maternal Hb
India [17] >37 wk 59, APD + IP lower 48, ICC Hb (3mo), ferritin (3mo), maternal Hb, maternal ferritin
Guatemala [18] >37 wk, weight >2 kg 22,  ACCP + IP lower; 22,  ACCP + IP level 21, ICC Hct, PC, Hct (2mo), Hb (2mo), ferritin (2mo), Maternal Hb, maternal ferritin, maternal iron indices(at delivery and follow-up)
India [19] >37 wk born to
anemic mothers
49,  APD + IP lower 53, ICC Hb (birth), ferritin (birth), Hb (3mo), ferritin (3mo), anemia (3 mo), breastfeeding, maternal Hb
Iran [20] 38-42 wk 34, 3 min +IP at level 34, <30 sec Hct (2h, 18h), PC, clinical signs of PC (2h, 18, 5d)
Pakistan [21] Term 100, ACCP + IP level 100, ICC Hb, Bil
Sweden [22] 39-40 wk 15, 3 min + IP level 15, <10 sec Hct (birth, 24 h, 5d), blood viscosity, rheological parameters
United Kingdom [23] Term 483/480 DCC=ACCP or 5 min; ECC=ICC Apgar (5min), NICU adm, PT need, breastfeeding, maternal PPH, maternal mean blood loss, maternal need for BT, MRP, length of third stage
United Kingdom [24] 37-42 wk 296, 3 min 256, ICC Respiratory problems, clinical HB, PT need, birth weight, feeding, maternal PPH, MRP
Canada [25] 38-42 wk 15, 1 min + IP lower 15, <15 sec Hct, RBC volume, plasma volume, Bil
Zambia [26] Term 55, ACCP + IP lower 50, <20 sec Hb, ET (1d), HB, birth weight, PT need, anemia (4mo), maternal blood loss
Sweden [27] Term 200, >180 sec 200, <10 sec Hb (2d), Hct (2d), Bil, respiratory symptoms, PC, PT need, Hb (4mo), ferritin (4mo), Transferrin saturation (4mo), reticulocyte Hb (4mo), anemia (4mo)
Preterm Deliveries
United Kingdom [28] 24-32 wk 23, 30-90 sec + IP lower 23, ICC Hct, mean blood volume, CRIB score, transfusion requirement
Switzerland [29] 24-32 wk 15, 60-90 sec + IP lower 24, <20 sec Mortality, Hct (4h, 24h, 72h), cerebral bood flow (4h, 24h), tissue oxygenation
South Africa [30] <35 wk 24, 60 sec + IP NS + ergometrine 14, ICC Mortality, cerebral USG (6-72h), Apgar score, birth weight, SBP (5 min), cord blood gas
Israel [31] 24-35 wk 30, 30-45 sec + IP lower 35, 5-10 sec Mortality, Hct, MBP, IVH, BT need, no. of BT, PT need, peak Bil, PDA, NEC
Israel [32] 24-35 wk 30, 30-45 sec + IP lower 35, 5-10 sec Levels of IgG, IgM, C3, C4(at birth), sepsis, days of AB, infections in 1st mo.
Australia [33] 26-33 wk 23, 30 sec 23, ICC Mortality, Hct (1h, 4h), Apgar score, temperature, MV need, BT volume, peak Bil, cerebral USG
USA [34] 24-32 wk 16, 30-45 sec + IP lower 16, 5-10 sec MBP, glucose, no. of volume expanders, volume transfused, peak bil, IVH, suspected NEC
USA [35] 24-32 wk 36, 30-45 sec + IP lower 36, 5-10 sec Mortality, no. transfused, volume transfused, IVH, BPD, suspected NEC, sepsis, LOS
USA [36] 24-32 wk 29, 30-45 sec + IP lower 29, 5-10 sec Neurodevelopmental outcome among survivors at 7mo
United Kingdom [37] 24-28 wk 16, 30-45 sec + IP NS 17, ICC Hct (4h), BT, resuscitation, Apgar score, BP (12 h), IVH, NEC, RoP, LOS, PDA
Germany [38] <33wk 19, 45 sec + IP lower 20, <20 sec + IP at lower No. of transfusions, volume transfused, Apgar score, BP, (1h,4h,24h), RD (1d), IVH, PDA, PT need, PT duration
USA [39] 30-36 wk 39/61 DCC=1 min + IP at lower; ECC=ICC Hct, BT, Apgar score, SNAP score, MV need, Bil, PT need
USA [40] 30-36 wk 39, 1 min + IP lower 61, ICC Mortality, IVH
Holland [41] 36-36 wk 21, 3 min 20, <30 sec Hct (1h, 10 wk), Hb (1h, 10 wk), glucose, Bil, PC, PT need, ferritin (10wk)
AB=antibiotics; ACCP=at cessation of cord pulsations; APD=after placental descent; Bil=Bilirubin; 

BP=blood pressure; BPD=broncho-pulmonary dysplasia; BT=blood transfusion; DCC= delayed cord clamping; 

ECC = early cord clamping; ET=exchange transfusion; Hb=haemoglobin; HB=hyperbilirubinemia; Hct=hematocrit; 

ICC=immediate cord clamping; IP=infant position; IVH=intraventricular hemmorhage; LOS=late onset sepsis, 

MBP=mean blood pressure; MRP=manual removal of placenta; MV=mechanical ventilation; 

NEC=necrotizing enterocolitis; NICU=neonatal intensive care unit; NS=not specified; PC=polycythemia; 

PDA=patent ductus arteriosus; PP=post-partum hemmorhage; PT=phototherapy; RBC=red blood cell; 

RD=respiratory distress; RoP=retinopathy of prematurity; SBP=systolic blood pressure, USG=ultrasonography

Results of meta-analyses for 17 outcomes in term deliveries and 16 outcomes in preterm deliveries are detailed in Table II. The findings suggest limited clinically significant benefits of delayed cord clamping for term infants; however it resulted in significantly reduced incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm neonates. Delayed clamping neither increases complications nor provides benefits for mothers delivering at term; risks and benefits for mothers delivering prematurely have not been explored in the trials.

Table  II



Summary of Meta-Analysis of data pertaining to term deliveries
Outcome Trials (N) Participants (n) Effect size (95% CI)
Term Deliveries
  Initial hematocrit (%) at birth 6 1163 MD 2.38 (1.10, 3.67)
  Initial hemoglobin (g/dL) 4 1059 MD 1.95 (0.81, 3.10)
  Hematocrit (%) at longest follow-up 2 403 MD 1.72 (-2.00, 5.44)
  Hemoglobin (g/dl) at longest follow-up 7 1318 MD 0.17 (-0.15, 0.49)
  Anemia at follow-up 3 402 RR 0.85 (0.54, 1.35)
  Ferritin level (mcg/L) at longest follow-up 4 857 MD 17.00 (12.15, 21.85)
  Admission to NICU 2 1239 RR 0.96 (0.40, 2.33)
  Respiratory distress 2 1008 RR 0.99 (0.35, 2.81)
  Hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice 5 2210 RR 1.16 (0.92, 1.45)
  Requirement of phototherapy 5 1974 RR 1.28 (0.48, 3.42)
  Polycythemia 6 936 RR 1.22 (0.79, 1.87)
  Maternal PPH >500 mL 4 1878 RR 0.82 (0.65, 1.04)
  Severe Maternal PPH (>1000mL) 4 1684 RR 1.19 (0.67, 2.11)
  Maternal blood loss (mL) 1 963 MD -6.36 (-47.66, 34.94)
  Maternal hemoglobin (g/dL) 4 1175 MD 0.12 (-0.06, 0.30)
  Maternal ferritin level (mcg/L) 2 154 MD -5.01 (-16.30, 6.28)
  Need for manual removal of placenta 2 1315 RR 0.45 (0.22, 0.94)
Preterm Deliveries
  Mortality 9 503 RR 0.55 (0.21, 1.46)
  Hematocrit at birth 9 457 MD 3.04 (2.58, 3.51)
  Requirement for transfusions 6 358 RR 0.72 (0.54, 0.96)
  Number of transfusions administered 4 144 MD -0.92 (-1.78, -0.05)
  Peak serum bilirubin (mg/dL) 5 215 MD 0.91 (0.21, 1.60)
  Requirement of phototherapy 3 180 RR 1.23 (0.94, 1.60)
  Patent ductus arteriosus 4 183 RR 1.28 (0.62, 2.64)
  Intraventricular hemmorhage 7 408 RR 0.49 (0.32, 0.74)
  Respiratory distress syndrome 1 39 RR 1.84 (0.64, 5.30)
  Requirement of ventilatory support 2 85 RR 1.09 (0.66, 1.81)
  Mean blood pressure 2 97 MD 3.66 (0.74, 6.58)
  Necrotizing enterocolitis 3 137 RR 0.47 (0.13, 1.69)
  Hemoglobin at longest follow-up 1 34 MD 1.10 (0.35, 1.85)
  Ferritin at follow-up 1 34 MD 19.00 (-60.93, 98.93)
  Hematocrit at follow-up 1 34 MD 4.00 (0.53, 7.47)
  Bronchopulmonary dysplasia 1 72 RR 1.33 (0.51, 3.46)
CI=confidence interval, MD=mean difference, RR=relative risk

Critical Appraisal

Risk of bias: The 29 trials included in the two components of this systematic review comprise current best evidence from published literature. However, only 4 trials in term deliveries [13,14,20,24] and 7 in preterm deliveries [31,32,34-36,39,40] could be classified as having low risk of bias based on criteria in the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool; the remainder had moderate or high [16,18,21,22,25,27] risk of bias. Web Table I summarizes the assessment of risk of bias in the included trials. Data in term deliveries was too limited for sensitivity analysis to assess impact of low(er) quality trials. Among preterm deliveries, risk of mortality and intraventricular hemorrhage were comparable among trials with low risk of bias (RR 0.25, 95% CI=0.04-1.45, 4 trials, n=308) and (RR 0.52; 95% CI=0.28-0.98, 4 trials, n=308) respectively, suggesting robust results.

Participant characteristics: All the trials included fairly stable pregnant women and used several exclusion criteria prior to randomization. Similarly, babies likely to be at risk of adverse outcomes were generally excluded. Therefore, the results pertain to a fairly well-filtered cohort of mothers and babies; raising the problem of distinguishing between efficacy and effectiveness of interventions. The trials among preterms did not describe the indication/cause of preterm delivery. This is important because antepartum hemorrhage, fetal distress, etc could be contributory; in such situations DCC cannot be considered.

Procedural differences in trials: Although the definition of ECC was fairly uniform across trials, DCC was defined in multiple ways (time ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes). This implies that trials with different DCC definitions could be heterogeneous enough to warrant caution in interpreting results.

Further, besides the timing of cord clamping, the position of the infant following delivery could independently affect placental transfusion to the baby. Since there is no clear recommendation on the ideal infant position following delivery [42], trials in term babies positioned babies either lower than the introitus [17,19,25,26], or at the same level [20-22] in the DCC arm. Position was not specified in the ECC arm. One trial [18] had two DCC arms with position lower and at level. Among preterms, the majority of trials used lower position with DCC [28,29,31,32,34-36,39,40]. Only one trial [38] used the lower position for both arms. The impact of position could not be ascertained in this systematic review.

It is customary to administer an uterotonic drug during the active management of the third stage; some trials included this component in either or both arms. The relative impact of this also cannot be established through this systematic review. Most trials included vaginal deliveries; some included Caesarean section deliveries as well. The relative differences (if any) between the two modes of delivery could not be explored in this review.

Conflict of maternal and neonatal interest: The current standard of care is to manage the third stage of labor actively (rather than expectantly) [43]; hence DCC is not the preferred method from the Obstetricians’ perspective. However, many Units are shifting to a policy of DCC in term deliveries, expecting benefit for infants. Waiting for DCC in a stable baby (not requiring resuscitation) does not pose a problem from the pediatricians’ viewpoint. However, since DCC has limited clinical benefits in term babies, this could create an apparent ‘conflict’ between maternal and neonatal interest, which can be resolved through joint appraisal and application of current best evidence. Unfortunately, none of the trials examined preferences of (maternal and neonatal) personnel in the delivery team.

Extendibility

Most of the trials among term deliveries were conducted in developing country populations, including two from India. However, all were conducted in settings with facilities for management of potential adverse maternal and neonatal consequences at the point-of-care; these facilities are consistent with services at level II (and above) neonatal care facilities. Limitations of manpower and/or material resources across various delivery settings could preclude application of the evidence in this systematic review.

Conflict of interest: None stated; Funding: None.


EURECA Conclusions in the Indian Context

• For infants delivered at term, delayed cord clamping results in very limited clinically significant, short and long-term benefits; it neither increases maternal complications nor provides maternal benefit.

• Among preterm deliveries, delayed cord clamping results in significantly reduced risk of intraventricular hemorrhage and marginal hemodynamic benefits in neonates. The risks and benefits for mothers are not known.
 

References

1. Prendiville WJ, Harding JE, Elbourne DR, Stirrat GM. The Bristol third stage trial: active versus physiological management of third stage of labour. BMJ. 1988;297:1295-1300.

2. Brune T, Garritsen H, Witteler R, Schlake A, Wüllenweber J, Louwen F, et al. Autologous placental blood transfusion for the therapy of anemic neonates. Biol Neonat. 2002;81:236-43.

3. Hudson IRB, Holland BM, Jones JG, Turner TL, Wardrop CAJ. First day total circulating red cell volume (RCV) predicts outcome in preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 1990;27:209A.

4. Linderkamp O, Versmold HT, Fendel H, Reigel KP, Betke K. Association of neonatal respiratory distress with birth asphyxia and deficiency of red cell mass in premature infants. Eur J Pediatr. 1978;129:167-73

5. Inch S. Management of the third stage of labour: another cascade of intervention? Midwifery. 1985;1:114-22.

6. WHO. Department of Making Pregnancy Safer. WHO recommendations for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. Geneva: WHO, 2007.

7. McDonald SJ, Middleton P. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;2:CD004074.

8. Rabe H, Reynolds GJ, Diaz-Rosello JL. Early versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;4:CD003248.

9. van Rheenen P, Brabin BJ. Late umbilical cord-clamping as an intervention for reducing iron deficiency anaemia in term infants in developing and industrialised countries: a systematic review. Ann Trop Pediatr. 2004;24:3-16.

10. Hutton E K, Hassan E S. Late vs early clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term neonates: systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. JAMA. 2007;297:1241-52

11. Lainez VB, Bergel AE, Cafferata TML, Belizan CJ M. Early or late umbilical cord clamping: a systematic review of the literature. Anales de Pediatria. 2005;63:14-21.

12. Rabe H, Reynolds G, Diaz-Rossello J. A systematic review and meta-analysis of a brief delay in clamping the umbilical cord of preterm infants. Neonatology. 2008;93:138-44.

13. Ceriani Cernadas JM, Carroli G, Pellegrini L, Otaño 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:e779-86.

14. Ceriani Cernadas JM, Carroli G, Pellegrini L, Ferreira M, Ricci C, Casas O, et al. The effect of early and delayed umbilical cord clamping on ferritin levels in term infants at six months of life: a randomized, controlled trial. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2010;108:201-8.

15. Chaparro CM, Neufeld LM, Tena Alavez G, Eguia-Líz Cedillo R, Dewey KG. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping on iron status in Mexican infants: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2006;367:1997-2004.

16. Emhamed MO, van Rheenen P, Brabin BJ. The early effects of delayed cord clamping in term infants born to Libyan mothers. Trop Doct. 2004;34:218-22.

17. Geethanath RM, Ramji S, Thirupuram S, Rao YN. Effect of timing of cord clamping on the iron status of infants at 3 months. Indian Pediatr. 1997;34 103-6.

18. Grajeda R, Pérez-Escamilla R, Dewey KG. Delayed clamping of the umbilical cord improves hematologic status of Guatemalan infants at 2 mo of age. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65:425-31.

19. Gupta R, Ramji S. Effect of delayed cord clamping on iron stores in infants born to anemic mothers: a randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatr. 2002;39:130-5.

20. Jahazi A, Kordi M, Mirbehbahani NB, Mazloom SR. The effect of early and late umbilical cord clamping on neonatal hematocrit. J Perinatol. 2008;28: 23-5.

21. Jaleel R, Deeba F, Khan A. Timing of umbilical cord clamping and neonatal haematological status. J Pakistan Med Assoc. 2009;59:468-70.

22. Linderkamp O, Nelle M, Kraus M, Zilow EP. The effect of early and late cord-clamping on blood viscosity and other hemorheological parameters in full-term neonates. Acta Paediatrica. 1992;81:745-50.

23. McDonald S. Timing of interventions in the third stage of labour. International Confederation of Midwives 24th Triennial Congress; 1996 May 26-31; Oslo, Norway. 1996:143.

24. No authors listed. A study of the relationship between the delivery to cord clamping interval and the time of cord separation. Oxford Midwives Research Group. Midwifery. 1991;7:167-76.

25. Saigal S, O’Neill A, Surainder Y, Chua LB, Usher R. Placental transfusion and hyperbilirubinemia in the premature. Pediatrics. 1972;49:406-19.

26. van Rheenen P, de Moor L, Eschbach S, de Grooth H, Brabin B. Delayed cord clamping and haemoglobin levels in infancy: a randomised controlled trial in term babies. Trop Med Int Health. 2007;12:603-16.

27. Andersson O, Hellstrom-Westas L, Andersson D, Domellof M. Early Versus Late Cord Clamping: Neonatal Outcomes and Iron Status at 4 Months in Swedish Infants. Pediatric Academic Society 2010 abstracts. Accessed from URL: http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/ on 29 december 2010.

28. Aladangady N, McHugh S, Aitchison TC, Wardrop CA, Holland BM. Infants’ blood volume in a controlled trial of placental transfusion at preterm delivery. Pediatrics. 2006;117:93-8.

29. Baenziger O, Stolkin F, Keel M, von Siebenthal K, Fauchere JC, Das Kundu S, et al. The influence of the timing of cord clamping on postnatal cerebral oxygenation in preterm neonates: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2007;119:455-9.

30. Hofmeyr GJ, Bolton KD, Bowen DC, Govan JJ. Periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage and umbilical cord clamping. Findings and hypothesis. S Afr Med J. 1988;73:104-6.

31. Kugelman A, Borenstein-Levin L, Riskin A, Chistyakov I, Ohel G, Gonen R, et al. Immediate versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in premature neonates born < 35 weeks: a prospective, randomized, controlled study. Am J Perinatol. 2007;24:307-15.

32. Kugelman A, Borenstein-Levin L, Kessel A, Riskin A, Toubi E, Bader D. Immunologic and infectious consequences of immediate versus delayed umbilical cord clamping in premature infants: a prospective, randomized, controlled study. J Perinat Med. 2009;37:281-7.

33. McDonnell M, Henderson-Smart DJ. Delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants: a feasibility study. J Paediatr Child Health. 1997;33:308-10.

34. Mercer JS, McGrath MM, Hensman A, Silver H, Oh W. Immediate and delayed cord clamping in infants born between 24 and 32 weeks: a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol. 2003;23:466-72.

35. Mercer JS, Vohr BR, McGrath MM, Padbury JF, Wallach M, Oh W. Delayed cord clamping in very preterm infants reduces the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and late-onset sepsis: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2006;117:1235-42.

36. Mercer JS, Vohr BR, Erickson-Owens DA, Padbury JF, Oh W. Seven-month developmental outcomes of very low birth weight infants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of delayed versus immediate cord clamping. J Perinatol. 2010;30:11-6.

37. Oh W, Carlo WA, Fanaroff AA, McDonald S, Donovan EF, Poole K, et al. Delayed cord clamping in extremely low birthweight infants - a pilot randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res. 2002;5Suppl4:365-6.

38. Rabe H, Wacker A, Hülskamp G, Hörnig-Franz I, Schulze-Everding A, Harms E, et al. A randomised controlled trial of delayed cord clamping in very low birth weight preterm infants. Eur J Pediatr. 2000;159:775-7.

39. Strauss RG, Mock DM, Johnson KJ, Cress GA, Burmeister LF, Zimmerman MB, et al. A randomized clinical trial comparing immediate versus delayed clamping of the umbilical cord in preterm infants: short-term clinical and laboratory endpoints. Transfusion. 2008;48:658-65.

40. Strauss RG, Mock DM. A randomized clinical trial comparing immediate vs delayed clamping of the umbilical cord In preterm infants. Transfusion. 2007;47:21A.

41. Ultee CA, van der Deure J, Swart J, Lasham C, van Baar AL. Delayed cord clamping in preterm infants delivered at 34 36 weeks’ gestation: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2008;93: F20-3.

42. Airey RJ, Farrar D, Duley L. Alternative positions for the baby at birth before clamping the umbilical cord. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;10:CD007555.

43. Prendiville WJ, Elbourne D, McDonald S. Active versus expectant management in the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;3:CD000007.
 

 

Copyright© 1999 by the Indian Pediatrics (Disclaimer)