Assessment of Umbilical Cord Milking on the Outcome of Term and Preterm Infants, Controlled Clinical Trial

Early may contribute to anemia in infancy thus it can deprive the infant of 60 to 100 ml of whole blood representing 30-50 mg/kg of iron. The umbilical cord milking is a safe technique. Aim of the study: The aim of the study to assess the effects of umbilical cord milking as compared with early cord clamping on hematological parameters (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, bilirubin and ferritin) among term and near term neonates. Materials & methods: This study was carried out as randomized, controlled clinical trial. The subjects were divided randomly into two groups (200 neonates who the cord was milked after cutting and clamping at 25 cm from the umbilicus as a study group and 200 neonates who were received early cord clamping without milking as a control group) in term and near term infants. Results: the hemoglobin level significantly increased in study group at 12, 48 hours and 6 weeks of birth (16.9, 16.9 &15.5 gm/dl) as compared with control group (16.2, 16.2 &15.0 gm/dl) and serum ferritin level significantly increased in study group at 6 weeks of birth (135.4 μg/ml) as compared with control group (128.8 μg/ml). The hematocrit level at 12 and 48 hours after birth was significantly higher in study group (p= 0.016). Serum bilirubin was slightly elevated in study group but there were not any infants of them needed phototherapy. Conclusions: Umbilical cord milking improved hemoglobin and iron status in term and near term neonates.