After the delivery of a baby, the umbilical cord is traditionally clamped and cut. However, delayed cord clamping (DCC) allows for some of the blood in the cord and placenta to flow back to the baby.
Based on clinical evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) both suggest 30-60 seconds of delayed cord clamping for premature and full-term babies as well as to account for varying nutritional statuses across the globe.
Can you do delayed cord clamping (DCC) and Stem Cell Banking?
For a good collection, we always suggest 100 - 150ml of blood be collected from the umbilical cord. In most cases, this will yield a high number of stem cells.
Each baby varies, but in general, delayed cord clamping will decrease the amount of blood that remains in the umbilical cord, but it is still possible to collect and bank the cord blood after 30-60 seconds of delayed cord clamping is completed.
The longer the delay, the lower the percentage of cord blood collections that meet storage requirements. This means that parents should be aware that delayed cord clamping could prevent their baby’s cord blood sample from meeting the necessary criteria.