For babies born at term (37 weeks or later), waiting a short time to clamp the umbilical cord can give them extra blood and iron. Iron helps carry oxygen in the blood. Babies who have delayed cord clamping are less likely to have anemia (low blood count) during their first year. 

Delayed clamping also gives the baby more antibodies and stem cells. These help fight infections and support healing in the body. Researchers think there may be other long-term benefits, but more studies are needed to know for sure. 

Delayed umbilical cord clamping in babies born at term may increase the risk of elevated bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment made when the body breaks down red blood cells. In adults and older babies, the liver removes bilirubin. A newborn’s liver is still developing, so it may take longer for it to clear from the body. When bilirubin levels become too high, babies can develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Jaundice usually goes away on its own. If the bilirubin level becomes too high, the baby may be treated with special light therapy (called phototherapy) to help lower it. Experts agree that as long as babies are checked for jaundice, the benefits of delayed cord clamping outweigh this small risk. 

A preterm baby is one who is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm babies may have trouble staying warm, may be more likely to have low blood pressure, and sometimes need a blood transfusion. 

Research shows that delayed umbilical cord clamping can provide many benefits for preterm babies. It may: 

• Reduce the need for blood transfusions 

• Improve blood pressure 

• Lower the risk of bleeding in the brain 

• Decrease the chance of a serious bowel problem called necrotizing enterocolitis 

Like babies born at term, preterm babies may have slightly higher bilirubin levels after delayed cord clamping. However, this does not seem to increase the need for phototherapy. While long-term effects are still being studied, delayed cord clamping is thought to support better development as your baby grows. 

In most cases, delayed cord clamping does not cause problems for the mother. Large studies show that it does not increase the risk of heavy bleeding after birth or the need for a blood transfusion. If there is heavy bleeding after delivery, the cord may be clamped sooner to help prevent further blood loss. 

Umbilical cord milking (sometimes called “stripping” the cord) is different from delayed cord clamping. During cord milking, a doctor or midwife gently squeezes the umbilical cord and pushes blood toward the baby a few times before the cord is clamped and cut. This helps move some blood from the cord to the baby more quickly. Cord milking has not been studied as much as delayed cord clamping. In extremely preterm babies (born at 23 to 27 weeks), studies have shown a higher risk of bleeding in the brain when cord milking was used. For this reason, cord milking is not recommended in extremely preterm babies. 

For babies born later in pregnancy (after 32 weeks), more research is needed to understand the benefits and risks of cord milking. 

Cord blood can be stored in a public bank or a private bank. Donating to a public bank is free, and the blood may help someone who needs a transplant. Private banks charge a fee to store cord blood for future use. Delayed cord clamping may reduce the amount of cord blood that can be collected. However, the chance that a baby will need their stored cord blood later is very small. Experts recommend waiting to clamp the cord rather than clamping it early just to collect cord blood. 

 In some situations, delayed cord clamping may not be recommended. For example, delayed cord clamping should not be done if a baby needs immediate medical care after birth, such as help with breathing. It may also not be recommended if there are problems with the placenta or if there is bleeding during delivery. 

Delayed cord clamping has not been well studied in twin or triplet pregnancies. If babies share a placenta and their blood circulation is connected, waiting to clamp the cord may cause uneven blood flow between them. The healthcare team will decide what is safest at the time of birth. 

There are some situations where delayed umbilical cord clamping shouldn’t be done, or the benefits have not been demonstrated. Pregnancies with more than one baby, such as twins and triplets, have not been studied. Delayed umbilical cord clamping should not be done in infants needing help with breathing or​ immediate care by the pediatrician.​ If there are certain problems with the placenta, delayed umbilical cord clamping shouldn’t be done because of the increased risk of bleeding for the mother and the possible need for urgent care of the ​newborn​.