Researchers in the US have claimed that delaying umbilical cord clamping by even just mere minutes at birth could have significant benefits for a child in later life.
According to a new study published today in health journal JAMA Paediatrics, a few extra minutes spent attached to the umbilical cord may translate into a boost in neurodevelopment for the child several years later.
The study is based around benefits from the flow of blood from the placenta to the child, with the report suggesting that blood volume can increase by up to a third in instances where cord clamping is delayed. The increase in blood and blood flow subsequently increases the child’s iron storage, which is essential for healthy brain development.
As part of their study, the researchers assigned half of a total of 263 healthy Swedish full-term newborns to have their cords clamped for more than three minutes after birth, while the other half were clamped for less than 10 seconds. They then put the children through IQ, motor skills, and behavioural skills testing four years later.
The study researchers found that those children whose cords were cut more than three minutes after birth had slightly higher social skills and finer motor skills in comparison to those whose cords were cut within 10 seconds.
While the practice is not yet endorsed by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, this new study certainly does add an interesting strand to the debate.
