Association of Umbilical Cord Milking vs Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping With Death or Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage Among Preterm Infants

Abstract

Placental transfusion has become the accepted standard in newborn care with benefits to the neonate including decreased mortality in preterm infants¹ and improved developmental outcomes in term infants.² Umbilical cord milking has been endorsed as an alternative to delayed umbilical cord clamping, which is the current standard of care. Umbilical cord milking provides a placental transfusion by pushing blood toward the newborn before the umbilical cord is clamped with a duration similar to immediate umbilical cord clamping, allowing the neonatal team to begin resuscitation promptly.