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Am J Perinatol 2021; 38(10): 1042-1047
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1701617
Original Article

Effects of Umbilical Cord Milking on Term Infants Delivered by Cesarean Section

Arpitha Chiruvolu
1   Department of Women and Infants, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center McKinney, Pediatrix Medical Group of Dallas, Dallas, Texas
,
Alexis Medders
2   Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas
,
Yahya Daoud
3   Department of Quantitative Sciences, Center for Clinical Effectiveness, Baylor Scott & White Health Care System, Dallas, Texas
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Funding The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
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Abstract

Objective Umbilical cord milking (UCM) is an efficient way to achieve optimal placental transfusion in term infants born by cesarean section (CS). However, it is not frequently performed due to concern for short-term adverse effects of increased blood volume, such as polycythemia and hyperbilirubinemia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term effects of UCM on term infants delivered by CS.

Study Design We conducted a pre- and postimplementation cohort study comparing term infants delivered by CS who received UCM five times (141 infants, UCM group) during a 6-month period (August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018) to those who received immediate cord clamping (ICC) during the same time period (105 infants, postimplementation ICC) and during a 3-month period (October1, 2016 to December 31, 2016) prior to the implementation of UCM (141 infants, preimplementation ICC).

Results Mothers were older in UCM group compared with both ICC groups. There were no significant differences in other maternal or neonatal characteristics. Although this study was not powered to detect differences in outcomes, the occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy, symptomatic polycythemia, NICU admissions, or readmissions for phototherapy was similar between the groups.

Conclusion UCM intervention was not associated with increased incidence of phototherapy or symptomatic polycythemia in term infants delivered by CS.

Keywords

term infants - cesarean section - umbilical cord milking - hyperbilirubinemia - phototherapy

Presentation

This study was a poster presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, April 24 to May 1, 2019, at Baltimore, MD.




Publication History

Received: 08 August 2019

Accepted: 06 January 2020

Article published online:
18 February 2020

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