STUDY OF “EFFECTS OF EARLY VERSUS DELAYED CORD CLAMPING ON NEONATAL OUTCOME”

Dr. Rita D., Dr. Akshitha Dadige* and Dr. Ravali G.

ABSTRACT

Background-Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are major public health problems in young children worldwide, and are associated with poor neurodevelopment. Delayed umbilical cord clamping has been suggested as a measure to prevent infant iron deficiency. Present study was done to know the effect of delayed and early cord clamping and neonatal outcome. Aims and objectives: The objective of the study is to study the benefits and potential harms of early versus delayed cord clamping. Methods: Randomized study carried out among 100 pregnant women (50patients were subjected to Delayed Cord Clamping and 50 to Early Cord Clamping), who have admitted and delivered at Navodaya Medical College (NMC), Raichur, Karnataka. Results: Delayed cord clamping in term infants had shown higher hemoglobin levels, i.e mean hemoglobin in Delayed Cord Clamping was 18.96 and in Early Cord Clamping was 15.28 and there were no significance between groups in hyper-bilirubinemia requiring phototherapy i.e 3 babies in Delayed Cord Clamping and 1 in Early Cord Clamping needed phototherapy, and mean bilirubin levels in Delayed Cord Clampingis 11 and Early Cord Clamping is 9.41 which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Delayed cord clamping in term was a simple, safe, and effective delivery procedure, which should be recommended. Delayed cord clamping reduced prevalence of neonatal anemia, without demonstrable adverse effects. As iron deficiency in infants even without anemia has been associated with impaired development, delayed cord clamping seems to benefit full term infants.

Keywords: Early cord clamping, delayed cord clamping, anemia, phototherapy, bilirubin.