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It goes without saying that we at Plumtree Baby are committed to the idea of making thoughtful decisions throughout pregnancy and labor, and we know that the process of making decisions extends well into the newborn period.
One of the first decisions expectant parents will be confronted with is when to clamp their newborn’s umbilical cord. Many expectant parents don't realize that they have a choice when it comes to the timing of cutting the umbilical cord.
Your job as a childbirth educator is to present parents with research on the topic so that they can make the best decision for their family. Here’s what to know about delayed cord clamping, including the benefits, drawbacks, and alternatives, and how clients can bring up this topic with their healthcare providers.
When Immediate Umbilical Cord Clamping May Be Necessary
Before we jump right into this topic, let’s first acknowledge that there are some circumstances where it may be necessary to cut the cord immediately following birth. Some of the risks that have been raised about delayed cord clamping include increased incidences of newborn jaundice, polycythemia (excessive red blood cells), respiratory distress, and delayed resuscitation.
In the end, the health care team is there to make the call if this practice presents too many risks for a newborn. But for most normal, uncomplicated, vaginal births, the necessity of cutting the cord may be done more out of habit and protocol than out of need.
Research on the Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping
A large body of research is now suggesting that there are many significant benefits of delayed cord clamping, specifically to the infant. For example, research has found that delayed cord clamping allows for the transfer of blood from the placenta. Delaying cord clamping can improve a baby’s iron status for the first six months of life, significantly decreasing their risk of developing anemia. The World Health Organization suggests these benefits occur when the cord pulses for at least two to three minutes, or ideally until cord pulsations stop.
In recent years, many major medical organizations have come to support delayed cord clamping. For instance, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that healthy full-term and preterm newborns should have delayed cord clamping for at least 30 to 60 seconds after birth.
ACOG cites the following benefits to this practice:
For full-term newborns, delayed cord clamping increases hemoglobin (iron) levels at birth, and improvement in iron stores is seen in the first few months of life as well.
For preterm babies, delayed cord clamping improves circulation and aids in red blood cell volume establishment. The practice can decrease the necessity for blood transfusion, and can lower incidences of both necrotizing enterocolitis and intraventricular hemorrhage.
Newborn umbilical cord clampCord Blood Banking or Donating and Delayed Clamping
Some parents may be interested in banking their baby’s cord blood or donating cord blood to a blood bank. Newborn cord blood is rich in stem cells. These stem cells have the potential to treat or cure certain rare or serious diseases. Saving cord blood can be beneficial to newborns, family members, or other families in need through donation.
You may be wondering if delayed cord clamping is compatible with cord banking or donation. The answer is: it depends. That’s because delayed cord clamping can yield a smaller amount of blood for cord collection. This may be acceptable, depending on what your goals are for cord blood banking or donation. It may also depend on how long you wait to cut the cord.
These are discussions a client should have with their medical team and their cord blood bank or donation center.
How to Include Delayed Cord Clamping in Your Birth Preferences
Although many hospitals and birthing centers have adopted policies that include a delayed cord clamping rule, there are still some healthcare providers who follow older policies. Other providers may allow this practice, but for a shorter duration than a parent might like.
For example, they may only allow the cord to stay attached for 30 seconds (the minimum, as recommended by ACOG) but a client might want to wait closer to two to three minutes, as mentioned by the World Health Organization.
You can support your clients by sharing up-to-date research and recommendations with them about this practice. But a major part of supporting parents is helping them make plans and navigate difficult conversations.
Here are some recommendations to share with your clients:
Add delayed cord clamping to your birth preferences, and consider specifying how long you’d like to wait before cutting the cord after discussing this timeframe with your healthcare provider beforehand.
Hire a doula to be an advocate for you during your birth, so that requests like delayed cord clamping can be articulated when you are engrossed in the birthing process itself.
Share tactics for managing challenging conversations with healthcare providers, including asking about risks/benefits, sharing scripts for self-advocacy, and bringing a supportive partner to prenatal appointments.
Mother holding newborn while the umbilical cord is cut
Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Delayed Cord Clamping
Nowadays, the benefits of delayed cord blood clamping has become fairly mainstream, especially with the adoption of ACOG’s policy on cord clamping. Still, this topic may present challenges for your clients, especially if they have a newborn with a health issue or a healthcare provider who follows old policies or isn’t up-to-date on the latest research.
If your client is being told that delayed cord clamping isn’t an option for them, you can encourage them to have an open and honest discussion with their healthcare provider, so that they can understand what the risks may be for their baby. You can offer them tips for advocating for themselves, if necessary, and provide any resources or support they may need.
It's Your Turn!
What are your thoughts on delayed cord clamping? Doulas, have you seen it in practice? Midwives and OBs, do you do delayed cord clamping if there are no medical situations that would prevent doing so? Childbirth educators, how do you integrate his topic into your classes and what questions do your clients typically have?
Have you seen practices of delayed cord clamping change over the years, since ACOG announced this new policy? What do you think the future is for routine cord clamping—will it move the way of the episiotomy and fall, largely, out of favor? If so, do you think there will be significantly seen benefits, long-term, to infants who have delayed cord clamping?
Want a parent-friendly resource on this topic and other key decisions? Our Preparing for Birth book covers labor, interventions, comfort measures, and the first hours after birth in language families can use as they plan their preferences.
Preparing for Birth Book
$8.75
Best-Selling guide to labor, birth, and early postpartum Empower families with knowledge and confidence as they prepare for one of life’s most transformative experiences. Preparing for Birth is your comprehensive,… read more
Wendy Wisner, Freelance Writer and Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Sources
Delayed cord clamping in healthy term infants: More harm or good?. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. 2021.
Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021.
Guideline: Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping for Improved Maternal and Infant Health and Nutrition Outcomes. World Health Organization. 2014.
Do Patients Really Have to Choose Between Delayed Cord Clamping and Newborn Stem Cell Banking? CAPPA. 2026.
Why parents should save their baby's cord blood — and give it away. Harvard Health. 2022.
Disclaimer: All content provided is for educational and informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and no alterations in lifestyle should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Consult your physician on any topics regarding your health and pregnancy. Plumtree Baby, LLC does not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages.
Updated 8/2026
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