The new findings suggest that concerns raised by a 2019 study of infants born before 28 weekswhich concluded that umbilical cord milking might increase the risk of bleeding inside the braindo not apply to preterm infants born after 28 weeks.
However, cord milking, takes about 20 seconds, reducing delay for infants who need immediate assistance, such as respiratory support.
Both procedures allow for umbilical cord blood to reach the infant’s body before clamping, reducing the risk of anemia and other complications seen among infants receiving immediate cord clamping and cutting.
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The study was conducted by Anup Katheria, M.D., of the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego, and colleagues in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
It was supported by NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
More than 1,000 infants were randomly assigned either to umbilical cord milking or delayed cord clamping. Rates of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain) and/or death did not differ significantly between the two groups (just over 1%).
Moreover, the rates of overall intraventricular hemorrhage were also similar between the groups (approximately 12%). The researchers will follow all the infants in the study for two years to observe longer term outcomes.
Reference :
- Umbilical Cord Milking versus Delayed Cord Clamping in Infants 28-32 weeks: A Randomized Trial
– (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37941523/)
Source: Eurekalert
