Effect of Timing of Umbilical Cord Clamping of Term Infants on Maternal and Neonatal Outcome in Benghazi Medical Center 2022-2023

Background: The best time to clamp the umbilical cord has been disputed for decades, and definitions differ "Early" cord clamping (ECC) occurs before one minute after birth (about 15-30 seconds), whereas "delayed" cord clamping (DCC) occurs after one minute or when cord pulsations have stopped Doctors and midwives have traditionally defined ECC as malpractice, associated with danger and harm to both mother and newborn, and There is strong evidence that early cord clamping causes neonatal hypovolemia, anemia, and poor iron reserves.

Objectives: To determine the levels of newborn hemoglobin and serum ferritin at birth and three months after delivery in infants who had their umbilical cord clamped for 60 seconds. And to determine the levels of newborn hemoglobin and serum ferritin at birth and three months after birth in infants who had their umbilical cord clamped within 30 seconds.

Subjective and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Benghazi Medical Center from June 2021 to March 2022 for 300 pregnant women who were admitted for elective cesarean section: 150 (the control group) received early cord clamping, and 150 (the study group) received delayed cord clamping.

Conclusion: Delay Cord Clamping provides considerable health benefits to term infants; it has been shown to lessen the risk of anemia in babies as young as three months old. Delay Cord Clamping (DCC) in term infants was feasible and safe, and there should be no hesitation in implementing this procedure routinely. Delay cord clamp is beneficial for the Apgar score of babies.