Delayed cord clamping allows blood to continue flowing from the placenta to the baby for a short time after birth, which can provide important benefits during the baby’s transition to life outside the womb.
Key Takeaways About Delayed Cord Clamping
- It means waiting before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after birth.
- The extra time allows blood to continue transferring from the placenta to the newborn.
- It can increase newborn blood volume, hemoglobin levels, and iron stores.
- The benefits can be especially important for premature babies.
- ACOG recommends waiting at least 30 to 60 seconds for most vigorous term and preterm babies.
- It does not appear to increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
- There is a small increase in jaundice requiring phototherapy among term babies, so newborns should be monitored.
- Immediate cord clamping may be necessary when the mother or baby needs urgent medical attention.
- Skin-to-skin contact can often begin while the cord remains attached.
- If delayed cord clamping is important to you, discuss it with your midwife or OB/GYN before delivery.
If you have been preparing for your baby’s birth, you may have heard your midwife delayed cord clamping. You may also have questions about what it actually means, how long you wait, and whether it is safe.
Waiting briefly to clamp the cord is a simple practice that gives your baby additional time to receive blood from the placenta after birth. It is now recommended by several major medical organizations for most healthy newborns, although the exact timing can depend on the circumstances of the birth.
What Happens During Delayed Cord Clamping?
After your baby is born, blood can continue moving between the placenta and your baby through the umbilical cord. Waiting before clamping the cord allows this process, known as placental transfusion, to continue.
Instead of clamping the cord immediately, the healthcare team waits for a period of time before placing the clamps and cutting the cord. During that time, your baby can often be placed directly on your chest for skin-to-skin contact while the cord remains attached.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends delayed cord clamping for at least 30 to 60 seconds after birth for most vigorous term and preterm babies.
Why Is Delayed Cord Clamping Beneficial?
The biggest benefit is that your baby receives additional blood from the placenta during the first moments after birth.
This extra blood can increase the baby’s blood volume and hemoglobin levels. It also provides additional iron, which can help support the baby’s iron stores during the first several months of life.
For premature babies, the benefits can be particularly important. Research has associated delayed cord clamping in preterm infants with better circulation after birth, a reduced need for blood transfusions, and lower rates of certain serious complications.
The World Health Organization recommends delaying cord clamping for at least one minute after birth for improved maternal and newborn health outcomes.
How Long Is the Cord Left Unclamped?
There is not one universal amount of time that applies to every birth.
ACOG recommends at least 30 to 60 seconds for most vigorous term and preterm infants. The World Health Organization recommends waiting at least one minute, and some professional organizations support waiting longer when circumstances allow.
Your healthcare provider may consider factors such as your baby’s condition, your health, the condition of the placenta and umbilical cord, and whether either of you needs immediate medical attention.
In other words, delaying cord clamping is not necessarily about watching a clock. The care team considers what is safest for both mother and baby.
Can You Have Skin-to-Skin Contact During Delayed Cord Clamping?
Often, yes. Delayed cord clamping does not necessarily mean your baby has to be taken away from you while you wait. ACOG notes that immediate skin-to-skin contact can be appropriate while the cord remains attached.
For many families, this means the first moments after birth can include your baby resting on your chest while the placenta continues providing blood through the umbilical cord.
Does Delayed Cord Clamping Affect the Mother?
Delayed cord clamping is primarily intended to benefit the newborn, but research has also looked at whether waiting to clamp the cord affects the mother.
Current evidence does not show that delayed cord clamping increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage or significantly increases blood loss during delivery.
However, there are situations in which the mother’s health takes priority and immediate cord clamping may be necessary. For example, if there is significant maternal bleeding or maternal instability, the healthcare team may need to act quickly.
Does Delayed Cord Clamping Increase the Risk of Jaundice?
There is a small increase in the likelihood of jaundice requiring phototherapy among term infants who have delayed cord clamping.
This does not mean delayed cord clamping should be avoided. Instead, newborns should be monitored for jaundice as part of routine newborn care. Your baby’s healthcare team can check for signs of jaundice and provide treatment if necessary.
Are There Situations When Delayed Cord Clamping Is Not Recommended?
Delaying cord clamping is recommended for most babies, but it is not appropriate in every situation.
Immediate clamping may be necessary if:
- Your baby needs immediate resuscitation that cannot be performed with the cord intact
- There is significant maternal bleeding
- The placenta has separated prematurely
- The umbilical cord has been damaged or is no longer functioning normally
- You or your baby needs urgent medical attention
The decision should be based on the health of both mother and baby rather than simply following a predetermined birth plan.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ updated 2026 guidance also emphasizes that clinical judgment is important and that immediate clamping may sometimes be necessary to protect the health of the mother or baby.
What About Delayed Cord Clamping With a C-Section?
Delayed cord clamping can also be performed during some cesarean births. The logistics are different because of the surgical setting, but the baby may be positioned on the mother’s abdomen or held close to the level of the placenta while the cord remains attached.
Whether it is possible depends on the circumstances of the birth and the health of the mother and baby. If delayed cord clamping is important to you, talk with your provider before delivery so you understand how your hospital or birth team handles it during cesarean births.
What About Premature Babies?
Delayed cord clamping can be especially valuable for premature babies. Preterm infants are more vulnerable to problems with circulation, anemia, and other complications after birth.
Research has found several benefits associated with delayed cord clamping in preterm infants, including improved transitional circulation and a reduced need for blood transfusions.
Because premature babies may also need immediate medical support, the neonatal and obstetric teams must balance the benefits of waiting with the baby’s condition at birth.
Can Delayed Cord Clamping Be Part of a Birth Plan?
Absolutely. If you would like delayed cord clamping, discuss it with your midwife or OB/GYN before labor. You can include your preference in your birth plan and ask how the practice handles it.
It is also worth asking what happens if circumstances change. Knowing ahead of time when your provider might recommend immediate cord clamping can help you feel more prepared.
A birth plan is meant to communicate your preferences, not lock you or your healthcare team into a particular course of action.
What About Cord Blood Banking?
Delayed cord clamping can affect the amount of blood available for cord blood banking because some of the blood that would otherwise be collected remains with the baby.
If you are considering private or public cord blood banking, discuss your plans with your healthcare provider and the cord blood bank before delivery.
ACOG notes that when there is no specific medical reason for directed cord blood donation, the benefits of allowing additional blood to transfer to the newborn generally outweigh the potential benefits of banking that blood.
Is Delayed Cord Clamping the Same as Waiting for the Cord to Stop Pulsing?
Not necessarily. People sometimes use “delayed cord clamping” to mean waiting until the cord stops visibly pulsing, but professional recommendations generally use a specific period of time or clinical assessment rather than relying solely on whether the cord is visibly pulsating.
Current guidance varies somewhat among professional organizations, so your provider may have a specific approach based on current evidence and the policies of your birth setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is delayed cord clamping better for the baby?
For most vigorous term and preterm babies, evidence supports benefits from delaying cord clamping. These include increased blood volume and improved iron stores, with particularly important benefits for premature infants.
How long should you wait to clamp the umbilical cord?
Recommendations vary. ACOG recommends at least 30 to 60 seconds for most vigorous term and preterm infants, while the WHO recommends waiting at least one minute.
Can you do delayed cord clamping with a midwife?
Yes. Delayed cord clamping is commonly incorporated into midwifery care when the health of the mother and baby allows it.
Can you have delayed cord clamping with an epidural?
Yes. Having an epidural does not by itself prevent delayed cord clamping. The decision depends on the condition of the mother and baby and the circumstances of the birth.
Can delayed cord clamping be done after a C-section?
In many cases, yes. The baby may be kept close to the mother while the cord remains attached, although the specific approach depends on the circumstances of the surgery.
Does delayed cord clamping hurt the mother?
Delayed cord clamping itself does not cause pain to the mother. The cord does not contain the same type of pain-sensitive nerves found in other parts of the body.
Does delayed cord clamping increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage?
Current evidence does not show that delayed cord clamping increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. However, if significant bleeding or maternal instability occurs, immediate cord clamping may be necessary.
Should delayed cord clamping be included in my birth plan?
If it is important to you, it is reasonable to discuss it with your provider and include it among your birth preferences. Your healthcare team can explain how delayed cord clamping is handled at your planned birth location and when it may not be possible.
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This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. For specific questions or concerns about delayed cord clamping, we recommend you consult with one of our women’s health care specialists. We’re here to help in Tampa, Wesley Chapel and St. Petersburg!