Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping - Essay Sample

Introduction

Delay in cord clamping is a birth exercise that occurs due to cutting the umbilical cord after the cease of the heartbeat. Additionally, a delay in cord clamping can result from unclamping of the code. This birth exercise has several effects on the infant and the delivering woman. However, some mothers prefer this birth type, hence asking ourselves what circumstances should prompt delayed cord clamping. Some scholars argue that delayed cord clamping birth type was started to save the baby who has been born before the gestation period is complete (Rabe et al. 2019).

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Similarly, it might have been started to rescue preterm babies who are depressed soon after delivery. Although cord clamping's advantages immediately after birth are yet to be known, most global agencies prefer it and other local organizations. Thus, this research paper aims to outline the advantages and disadvantages of practicing cord clamping immediately after birth, particularly within a few seconds. This research article will also give the ever-changing data analysis regarding the amount of time spent during the cord clamping exercise.

Synthesis of Findings

In one of the research articles that used a qualitative design and 20 participants, the babies' weight at birth and the levels of hemoglobin in their blood in early umbilical cord clamping were seen to be lower when compared in an incident of delayed clamping. Moreover, children subjected to early umbilical cord clamping have a high prevalence rate of iron deficiency from an age range of three to six months. In incidences where there was a delay in the umbilical cord's clamping immediately after birth, it was essential for the babies to undergo jaundice phototherapy. In this study, there were slight changes regarding the prevalence rate of maternal deaths and scenarios of hemorrhages with the mothers immediately after giving birth.

Another article suggested that there was no need for blood to be transfused to the newborn babies in the event of delayed clamping of the umbilical cord. Similarly, the research indicated high hemoglobin levels in the infant's blood in the cases where there was delayed umbilical cord clamping than when the cord clamping was induced earlier. Nevertheless, according to the research article, early clamping indicated that it resulted in increased chances of the infant experiencing Intraventricular hemorrhage. However, this research did not record any maternal deaths and substantial risk to both the neonate and the mother.

Further, another research that did not provide answers to delayed cord clamping indicated that milking of blood from the umbilical cord after clamping helped improve some vital aspects of the newborn (Fogarty et al., 2018). The survey participants were randomly grouped into two groups, where the first group handled delayed cord clamping while the other group was tasked with milking blood from the cord five times before cutting the cord. A sample size of 250 participants was used. The intervention was to know either blood milking from the line or delayed umbilical cord clamping was essential for the newborn.

Evidence Based Practice

One of the main practice-based evidence strategies is maneuvering by somersault. Maneuvering by somersault strategy was established after realizing the cons of umbilical cord clamping before delivering the baby's shoulders. During the umbilical cord clamping exercise, the baby's head should be placed close to the perineum (Hooper et al., 2016). Keeping the infant's head near the perineum will help lower the chances of griping during the umbilical cord's delivery process. Hence, the placenta is in a position to supply more blood to the infant. Thus, this research's primary evidence-based practice involves immediate clapping of the cord after the shoulders have been delivered, giving the baby more time to recover red blood cells.

Research Evidence Into Practice

During the cord clamping process, there should be proper timing as the health of both the mother and the newborn baby is at stake. The timing of the clamping operation is heavily dependent on the policies of a clinic and its practices. With the clamping process's proper timing, the risk of jaundice condition to the baby is reduced. Further, the prevalence rate of iron deficiency in children is reduced as children are born with high hemoglobin levels in the blood and increased weight at birth (Katheria et al., 2015).

Prior studies that have not answered the question on delayed cord clamping have suggested that there are higher risks to a preterm baby than a fully developed baby in case the cord clamping exercising is delayed to a maximum of ten minutes. Further, the failure to keep the head near the perineum increases the risk. Nurses highly recommend somersault maneuver as the cord clamping should only be practiced after the shoulders have been delivered.

Additionally, several strategies can be put in place when practicing the somersault maneuver during the delayed clamping process. The professionals in the midwifery field should be encouraged to attend seminars regarding the implementation of the practice. The general public and midwives should be enlightened on the cons and pros of the somersault maneuver. Furthermore, the mother's family members should be informed about this method's pros to encourage more mothers to prefer this method.

Various strategies can be used to spread the use of somersault maneuver in the practice of delayed cord clamping. Organizing seminars for professionals involved in childbirth would go a long way in implementing the procedure. Talks on the advantages and disadvantages of somersault maneuver would spread the usage of the method. Moreover, offering education to the patients' immediate family members and the patients on the benefits of cord clamping delay and the safety associated with somersault maneuvers.

Also, communication on the significance of somersault maneuver exercise can be achieved through comparison of different cases. The selection and follow up of a case study helps to evaluate the effects of other processes. Additionally, nurses get a chance to comprehend the pros and cons of the process thoroughly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nurses play a crucial role in the prevention of deaths related to the delivery process. Additionally, their part to lower cases of stillbirths and neonatal deaths cannot be undermined. This research has shown the numerous benefits associated with the exercise of delayed cord clampings, such as few incidences of blood loss of the mother and better health for the baby. However, more research should be carried out regarding the correct time for delayed cord clamping. The use of somersault maneuver in the delayed clamping process is more advantageous as the clamping process can be delayed for a maximum of ten minutes rather than the standard three minutes (Rabe et al., 2019). At this time, the neonate can get blood through the placenta lowering the risk of iron deficiency.

The nurses are charged with the task of ensuring the proper timing of the clamping process. Additionally, the nurses should explain to the pregnant women the importance of using the somersault maneuver approach and the disadvantages of failing to use it (Rabe et al., 2019). Also, the health facilities managers need to know the importance of using the somersault maneuver for the patient's safety. The nurses should even fully comprehend as to why a patient is against the procedure.

References

Fogarty, M., Osborn, D. A., Askie, L., Seidler, A. L., Hunter, K., Lui, K., ... & Tarnow-Mordi, W. (2018). Delayed vs. early umbilical cord clamping for preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 218(1), 1-18.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937817314394

Hooper, S. B., Binder-Heschl, C., Polglase, G. R., Gill, A. W., Kluckow, M., Wallace, E. M., ... & te Pas, A. B. (2016). The timing of umbilical cord clamping at birth: physiological considerations. Maternal Health, Neonatology, and Perinatology, 2(1), 4.
https://fn.bmj.com/content/100/4/F355.short

Katheria, A. C., Truong, G., Cousins, L., Oshiro, B., & Finer, N. N. (2015). Umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping in preterm infants. Pediatrics, 136(1), 61-69.
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/136/1/61?utm_source=highwire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pediatrics_etoc

Rabe, H., Gyte, G. M., DíazRossello, J. L., & Duley, L. (2019). Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping and other strategies to influence placental transfusion at preterm birth on maternal and infant outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003248.pub4/abstract.