Optimal Cord Clamping – Whose blood is it anyway?

When a baby’s cord is clamped immediately after birth, approximately 30% of their blood volume is left behind in the placenta. That blood contains iron, oxygen, over a million stem cells and goodness knows what else them at has yet to be uncovered. There has never been any evidence to show immediate clamping is safe for babies, only evidence that it causes harm.

Registered Midwife and general Nurse Amanda Burleigh has been campaigning for optimal cord clamping since identifying that immediate cord clamping g had no evidence base in 2005. She co-developed the LifeStart trolley, the first bedside resuscitation device that allows vulnerable babies to be resuscitated with the cord still intact as the evidence shows that premature and compromised babies benefit from intact cord resuscitation. She’s watched international guidelines change from globally recommending immediate cord clamping to delays of approx 60 seconds (which is not enough) because of this work. She’s also the founder of the “waitforwhite” campaign, co-author of the #SayNoToBullyingInMidwifery report and is working with the BabySaver team, which is a small tray which aids facilitation of intact cord resuscitation.

In this ARM webinar, Amanda presents the evidence and discusses the changes in practice, making the case for optimal cord clamping and intact cord resuscitation and how we still have a lot of work to do to ensure all babies receive their cord blood and how midwives can contribute to ensuring babies are born as healthily as possible.

For midwives, students, and birth workers. Q&A included.

Can’t make it live? Book your space and the recording will be sent to your email.

ARM Member — £5 | Non-member — £15

Because Midwifery Matters