Cutting umbilical cord too soon 'could harm baby'

Doctors and midwives should stop clamping babies umbilical cords immediately after birth and wait for a few minutes instead, according to experts.

They said waiting for three minutes could allow more blood to flow to the baby and reduce the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia in newborns.

Retired consultant obstetrician, Dr David Hutchen, said both the World Health Organisation and the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics advised doctors to refrain from early cord clamping.
However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) still advocates active management, which includes early clamping and cutting of the cord. British doctors are therefore reluctant to change their practices.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Dr Hutchon said early cord clamping 'has become the accepted norm so much so that delaying clamping is generally considered a new or unproved intervention.'

Yet he argues that 'applying a clamp to the cord is clearly an intervention, having the greatest effect when it is done quickly after birth.'

The doctor who used to work at Memorial Hospital in Darlington, said if the need for early cord clamping was removed from NICE's guideline, 'there could be an overnight change in practice.'

He concluded: 'Clamping the functioning umbilical cord at birth is an unproven intervention.

'Lack of awareness of current evidence, pragmatism, and conflicting guidelines are all preventing change. To prevent further injury to babies we would be better to rush to change.'

A spokeswoman from NICE said they would be reviewing their current guidelines on treating women in labour early next year.


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