Whether newborns need extra blood through delaying the clamping of the cord is controversial. Extra cord blood effectively gives the baby more red blood cells or haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying cells, if levels are low you are anaemic).
Natural birth proponents believe receiving extra cord blood is part of the normal birth process and the baby should be given it. Medical birth proponents believe it is not essential and may increase the baby's chances of becoming jaundiced. Jaundice is a by-product of the natural breakdown of red blood cells after the birth that the baby's body no longer needs. You can read more in
jaundiced baby.
Regardless of various caregivers' opinions and your own perspectives, delaying cutting the cord may become an issue if you wish to donate
cord blood for children with leukaemia.
At this stage there is no clear evidence to support that extra blood is beneficial or detrimental for healthy, full
term babies in Western countries. There have been studies showing benefits for babies in third world countries who have a tendency to be anaemic at birth and small premature babies who may benefit from having the extra blood volume at birth.
What we do know is if the cord is not clamped immediately (at least 2 to 3 minutes) the baby can receive anywhere from 75 to 125 mls of extra blood. The amount of blood received is very much dependent on the position the baby is held in relation to the mother's position after birth.
Baby lying at the level of the uterus. If the baby is lying at the level of the woman's uterus, for example if the baby is lying on the bed between her legs (and the woman is sitting or lying on the bed), the baby will receive about 80 mls of extra blood.
Baby lying below the level of the uterus. If the baby is held below the level of the woman's uterus, for example if the woman is standing or kneeling and the baby is held below her, then the baby will receive 80 to 125 mls of extra blood.