Campaign to Delay Cord Clamping

NCT is encouraging and supporting this campaign - we have supported change in this practice now for more than a decade and have been encouraging researchers to carry out research in the area so the evidence to force a change in practice is there ... it's getting there slowly - we need a big push by everyone to get it to happen. Belinda Phipps

I am a practicing Midwife with 24 years experience. Seven years ago, I truly reflected on my practice with regards to the third stage of labour and the wide spread practice of Immediate Cord Clamping after teachers voiced their concern at the increasing numbers of children with medical or learning problems. I also observed the same in friends and family children.

After extensive searching and confirmation of very worrying statistics, I had an epiphany and realised that this common practice implemented 40-50 years ago was an interruption of a fundamental birth process, which deprived the baby of up to 40% of its intended blood volume, with unknown results and for the most part absolutely unnecessary.
 
On approaching managers and doctors, I was told I had an interesting scientific theory which was not evidence based. I pointed out at that time that Immediate Cord Clamping was not evidence based. I was informed that to change practice I would have to produce evidence.

I wrote to the RCM and asked for immediate national clarification on timing of clamping the umbilical cord. At the time there was little evidence but George Morley from the US was convinced that Immediate Cord Clamping was the cause of irreversible brain damage leading to Autistic Spectrum Disorders. From that time, I immediately started offering all my women informed choice with regards to delaying the clamping and cutting of their babies cord. Over the years I have received a good deal of antipathy.

Over the past 7 years, there has been a growing body of evidence to support the delay in clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord. The World Health Organisation, Unicef, ILCOR, International Confederation of Midwives, FIGO and more recently the Royal College of Midwives have all recommended Delay in Cord Clamping as best practice. Timings vary from 1 to 5 minutes. 
 
NICE are intending to review and publish new guidelines but not until November 2014 and there is no guarantee that they will include Delaying Cord Clamping in the new guidelines.

Many hospital doctors are reluctant to change their guidelines until NICE give the go ahead, whereas other hospitals i.e. Darlington, Liverpool and Worcester have taken the lead and changed their guidelines despite NICE recommendations.

Two years is too long to wait when there is ample evidence to indicate that Immediate Cord Clamping is detrimental to babies. I am part of a national team which includes Consultant Paediatricians, Obstetricians and Neonatologists. Together we developed the basics trolley, a small resuscitaire which enables the umbilical cord to remain intact whilst resuscitation occurs. Much of the evidence shows that compromised and premature babies benefit from delayed cord clamping.

As part of a growing global network, I was delighted to be approached by the NCT and I would like to invite you all to join the campaign to lobby the National Institute of Clinical Excellence to change the Current Guidelines which recommend Immediate Cord Clamping (NON evidence based practice, proven to be detrimental to babies and normally performed before baby has breathed) to recommend Delayed Cord Clamping for at least 3-5 minutes, but ideally until the cord stops pulsating.
 
http://www.change.org/petitions/nice-implement-delayed-cord-clamping-immediately?share_id=QmzivsMSYS&utm_campaign=petition_created_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=guides 

Amanda Burleigh RGN RM

Tweet