Comparison of Umbilical Cord milking and Delayed Cord Clamping on haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in term neonates. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Dr. Virender Singh; Dr. Deepika Dewan; Dr. Amita Gupta; Dr.Yudhistervir Gupta; Dr.Tania Kakkar; Dr.Rajat Gupta

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

Comparison of Umbilical Cord milking and Delayed Cord Clamping on haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in term neonates. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Dr. Virender Singh, Dr. Deepika Dewan, Dr. Amita Gupta, Dr. Yudhistervir Gupta, Dr. Tania Kakkar, Dr. Rajat Gupta

Abstract :

Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping is an effective strategy and particularly relevant for infants living in low–resource settings with less access to iron–rich foods and thus are at greater risk of anaemia.

Objective: To compare the effect of umbilical cord milking (UCM) and delayed cord clamping (DCC) on haematological parameters (serum ferritin &hemoglobin) at birth and at 72 hours in term neonates.

Methods:This was an Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial conducted atSuvidha Mother and Child Nursing Home TalabTillo Jammu over a period of 6 months.A total of 68 babies born at > 37 weeks of gestation were randomized in three groups, group I UCM alone (n=28) , Group II DCC alone (n=23) and Group III both UCC and DCC (n=17) using simple randomization technique . In milking group, Umbilical cord was milked 4 times towards the baby at a speed of 10 cm / sec . In Delayed Cord Clamping group cord was clamped and cut 2–3 cm distance from the umbilical stump after 3 minutes of birth. In Group III both procedures were done simultaneously.

Statistical analysis: ANOVA was used to compare mean difference of outcome between three intervention arms. Two tailed P value of <0.05 was taken as significant. SPSS version 20.0 was used for data analysis

Results: The baseline characteristics were mostly comparable in the all the groups. Maximum increase in Haemoglobin and PCV was seen in group II i.e delayed cord clamping . Mean haemoglobin and heamatocrit (PCV) levels at 72 hours of life neonates in group II (17.7g% and 55.4 ) and group III (17.3g% and 54) were comparable .

Conclusion: Both the interventions i.eDelayed cord clamping performed alone or in combination with umbilical cord milking had comparable effect on hematological status in term neonates.