Delayed cord clamping (DCC) enhanced placental transfusion which could increase immediate haemoglobin concentration in newborns and improved the iron stores of infants up to six months after birth. World Health Organization(2014) recommends DCC, with no earlier than 1 minute after birth, during the essential newborn care provision, for better maternal and infant outcomes on health and nutrition.
Objectives
- To promote evidence-based midwifery practice among 8HA birthing hospitals
- To reduce variation of practice on managing umbilical cord clamping after birth
- To promote and uphold baby’s health via DCC
- To develop specialty standard practice guideline
Methods
- Review the current practice on managing umbilical cord clamping for newborn babies after birth among 8HA birthing hospitals
- Adopt the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-based Practice (JHNEBP) model to enhance the DCC practice
Results
Among 8 HA birthing hospital, the overall DCC practice for the term vaginal birth babies was 76.7% in the year of 2022. There was an increase of 9.3% when compared with the data in 2019.
Implications and opportunities
- Guideline on DCC among HA birthing hospitals developed to standardize practice
- Extend the practice to Caesarean Section birth and preterm babies (≥ 32 weeks of gestation)
