What is delayed cord clamping and cord blood banking?

Delayed cord clamping is when the cutting of the umbilical cord is delayed after a birth. It is typically delayed by a minute or more and allows the baby to benefit from extra oxygenated blood transmitted through the mother’s placenta. Experts state this has important health benefits for the baby, including:

• Increased red blood cell count for the first one to two days
• Higher iron levels for up to six months – this helps physical and mental development
• Increased blood volume.

Cord blood banking means to collect and store the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. It’s stored for future medical use because cord blood contains a type of cell called a ‘stem cell’, which can be used in the treatment of cancers like leukaemia, blood disorders and immune deficiencies. It can also be used to treat thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and metabolic disorders that are fatal in infants.

After the cord blood has been collected, it can be used to treat a range of patients – not necessarily only people related to you and your baby. Once the blood arrives in a cord blood bank, it will be stored frozen. This keeps it in optimum condition for when it’s needed.