Authors

Mireia Larrosa Domínguez1, Mª Inmaculada de Molina Fernández2

Position

1 Enfermera en la Universidad Rovira i Virgili (URV)2 Matrona. Profesora. Facultad de Enfermería. Campus Catalunya. Universidad Rovira i Virgili (URV). Tarragona

Contact address

Mireia Larrosa Domínguez. Carretera de Valencia, 221 E-1, 2º-1ª. 43006 Torreforta (Tarragona)

Abstract

Objective: to describe the consequences and/or effects of the different strategies for clamping and “milking” the umbilical cord in term and preterm newborns.
Method: a narrative review of literature was conducted, using the Cuidatge, Pubmed, CINAHL, IBECS and Cochrane Library plus databases. This included articles of reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and original articles, written in Spanish and English, published between January, 2009 and January, 2015, and regardless of the country where the study had been developed.
Results: it has been observed, at a haematological level, that a delayed clamping of the umbilical cord in term newborns will lead to an increase in haemoglobin and hematocrit at shot term; and even though this difference won’t be noticeable at long term, an increase in ferritin is observed, as well as a reduction in the incidence of childhood anemia and in the need for blood transfusions.
The delayed clamping in preterm newborns can entail a blood flow increase in the upper cava vein, and its consequence can be a reduction in the incidence of intraventricular haemorrhages, a lower risk of suffering necrotizing enterocolitis, and a reduction in the development of delayed sepsis.
Conclusions: there does not seem to be any scientific evidence justifying an early clamping of the umbilical cord in term and preterm newborns, and there are increasingly more studies arguing for the benefits at short and long term offered to newborns by a delay in the time of umbilical cord clamping. At the same time, it would be necessary to develop clinical practice guidelines in order to regulate this practice in all healthcare centres.

Keywords:

Term newborns; preterm newborns; cord “milking”; delayed clamping of the cord; early clamping of the cordnarrative review

Versión en Español

Título:

Consecuencias y efectos del pinzamiento precoz o tardío del cordón umbilical