Cord Milking Best for Infants Delivered Through C Section

A new study has revealed that by massaging the umbilical cord of preterm infants delivered through C Section, you can increase the levels of red blood cells, improve blood pressure and also induce better blood flow - to and from the heart.

Cord milking is done by gently squeezing the umbilical cord with your thumb and forefingers. The technique involves slowly massaging blood through the cord into the abdomen of the infant shortly after birth.

Scientists from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) feel that cord milking is a better alternative over the standard practice of delayed clamping - where medical officials wait for 30-60 seconds before clamping the umbilical cord.

Scientists believe the delay can help reduce the risk of bleeding in the infant's brain cavities which is usually caused by low blood pressure since there is too little blood in the circulatory system.

Experts feel cord milking allows improved blood flow and also increase the amount of blood available in the child.

"The study results are very encouraging," said Tonse Raju, chief of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD's pregnancy and perinatology branch.

"The results need to be confirmed in a larger number of births, but it appears that umbilical cord milking may prove to be of great benefit to preterm infants delivered via Caesarean."

During the study, out of a total of 197 new borns, 157 infants were delivered through C Section in which 79 infants were assigned to delayed clamping while 75 infants were assigned to cord milking.

Among those delivered through C Section, infants subjected to cord milking were shown to have higher blood flow in the superior vena cava- a large vein that carries blood from the brain to the heart.