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Delayed cord clamping

Whether to wait a short time after birth before the umbilical cord is clamped, so more blood passes from the placenta to the baby.

Should we ask for delayed cord clamping?

In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Immediate; Delay 30-60 seconds; Longer delay. Evidence: well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. Best settled: during pregnancy.

Evidence
Well established
Best settled
During pregnancy
Part of
Pregnancy to first birthday

Delayed cord clamping: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.

  1. 1. Immediate

    The cord is clamped and cut right after birth.

  2. 2. Delay 30-60 seconds

    The care team waits half a minute to a minute before clamping.

  3. 3. Longer delay

    The care team waits longer, often until the cord stops pulsing.

Delayed cord clamping: what does the evidence say?

Well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it.

ACOG (Committee Opinion 814) recommends waiting at least 30-60 seconds in term and preterm infants. In term babies it raises hemoglobin at birth and iron stores over the first months, which may help development; in preterm babies it is linked to fewer transfusions and less bowel and brain-bleed complications

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

After birth, blood continues to flow from the placenta to the baby for a short time. Waiting before clamping lets more of it reach the baby. It is now standard in many hospitals, though it can be shortened if the baby needs immediate help.

Questions to ask each other

  • Have we told our provider this matters to us, and how would they handle it?
  • Would we want it even if we are asked to be quick?
  • Is there any situation where we would want it skipped?

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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.