Int J Pediatr. 2025 Dec 12;2025:1501028. doi: 10.1155/ijpe/1501028. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) for 30-60 s after birth is recommended for both term and preterm infants. The additional neonatal blood volume rich in stem cells and immunoglobulins may protect the neonate from infections. We aim to compare the effect of DCC in term newborns on hyperbilirubinemia and respiratory infection-related pediatric emergency department (PED) encounters and hospitalizations within the first 6 months of life.
METHODS: We conducted a chart review of term infants born between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and grouped them as either having DCC or not having delayed umbilical cord clamping (nDCC) for 30-60 s after birth. Maternal and newborn characteristics, hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory infection-related PED encounters, hospitalizations, and length of stay in the initial 6 months after birth were compared. Data were analyzed using R software, a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of the 2136 charts reviewed, 659 (31%) were in the DCC group. There were significantly fewer respiratory infection-related PED encounters (p < 0.001), fewer hospitalizations (p = 0.04), and a 5% lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in the DCC group (95% CI: 0.86%-8.6%; p = 0.02). The length of stay of each hospitalization was not significantly different between the two groups, p = 0.07.
CONCLUSIONS: We observed fewer respiratory infection-related PED encounters and hospitalizations in the initial 6 months of life and a lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemia among the infants who had DCC. The increased blood volume and its components appear to be supportive of the neonate’s developing immune system as seen in the lower disease burden up to 6 months of age.
PMID:41477680 | PMC:PMC12752858 | DOI:10.1155/ijpe/1501028