Evidence-based labor management: third stage of labor (part 5).

During the third stage of labor, oxytocin and tranexamic acid, oxytocin and misoprostol, oxytocin and methylergometrine, or carbetocin is recommended for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery. Intravenous oxytocin (10 IU) immediately after delivery of the neonate (after either anterior shoulder or whole-body delivery) and before delivery of the placenta is recommended. If oxytocin and tranexamic acid combination is chosen, intravenous tranexamic acid (1 g) in addition to intravenous oxytocin (10 IU) immediately after delivery of the neonate and before placental delivery is recommended. If oxytocin and misoprostol combination is chosen, sublingual misoprostol (400 µg) in addition to intravenous oxytocin (10 IU) immediately after delivery of the neonate is recommended. If there is no intravenous access or if in low-resource settings, sublingual misoprostol (400 µg) and intramuscular oxytocin (10 IU) are recommended. If oxytocin and methylergometrine combination is chosen, intramuscular methylergometrine (0.2 mg) and intravenous oxytocin (10 IU) immediately after delivery of the neonate are recommended. Single-dose intravenous or intramuscular carbetocin (100 µg) immediately after delivery of the neonate is recommended. Controlled cord traction and delayed cord clamping for approximately 60 seconds is recommended. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute umbilical cord milking, uterine massage, or nipple stimulation for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. Repair of first- and second-degree lacerations with continuous synthetic suture technique is recommended. No repair of first-degree lacerations if hemostatic and normal cosmesis can be considered. Repair of third-degree lacerations with end-to-end or overlap continuous synthetic suture technique is recommended. Repair of fourth-degree lacerations with delayed absorbable 4-0 or 3-0 polyglactin or chromic suture in a running fashion is recommended. The use of single-dose second-generation cephalosporin at the time of third- or fourth-degree laceration repairs can be considered. Skin-to-skin contact after delivery is recommended. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute routine cord blood gas sampling after delivery. Public cord blood banking is recommended.

Umbilical cord milking in newborns: scoping review

Objective: To map the available evidence on umbilical cord milking in newborns. Material and Method: Scoping Review based on the protocol proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A search for full-text articles published in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, WOS and CINAHL was carried out using the following keywords: infant, newborn, umbilical cord milking, placental transfusion and umbilical cord blood. Results: The results indicated umbilical cord milking has superior benefits to the immediate cord clamping, among the main ones are higher levels of Hemoglobin, Hematocrit and Serum Ferritin, and reduction of complications in preterm newborns, such as intraventricular hemorrhage and the need for blood transfusion. When compared to delayed cord clamping, it has similar benefits, but milking is considered a faster method of placental blood transfusion. Conclusions: Umbilical cord milking has similar potential to delayed cord clamping. Therefore, it can be an alternative for obstetric nurses and midwives when delayed cord clamping cannot be performed in order to ensure the benefits of placental transfusion to the neonate.

Objetivo: Mapear la evidencia disponible sobre la ordeña del cordón umbilical en recién nacidos. Material y Método: Revisión de Alcance con base en el protocolo propuesto por el Instituto Joanna Briggs. Se realizó una búsqueda de artículos de texto completo publicados en MEDLINE, SCOPUS, WOS y CINAHL utilizando las siguientes palabras clave: lactante, recién nacidos, ordeña cordón umbilical, transfusión placentaria y sangre de cordón umbilical. Resultados: La ordeña del cordón umbilical tiene beneficios superiores al pinzamiento inmediato del cordón, entre los principales se encuentran: mayores niveles de hemoglobina, hematocrito y ferritina sérica y reducción de complicaciones en recién nacidos prematuros, tales como hemorragia intraventricular y necesidad de transfusión sanguínea. En comparación con el pinzamiento tardío del cordón, tiene beneficios similares, pero la ordeña se considera el método más rápido de transfusión de sangre placentaria. Conclusiones: La ordeña del cordón umbilical tiene potencial similar al pinzamiento tardío del cordón, por lo tanto, puede ser una alternativa para enfermeras obstétricas y parteras cuando no se puede realizar el pinzamiento tardío del cordón para asegurar los beneficios de la transfusión placentaria al neonato.

Objetivo: Mapear as evidências disponíveis sobre a ordenha de cordão umbilical em recém-nascidos. Material e Método: Revisão de escopo baseada no protocolo proposto pelo Joanna Briggs Institute. A busca de artigos completos publicados na MEDLINE, SCOPUS, WOS e CINAHL foi realizada utilizando as seguintes palavras-chave: lactente, recém-nascido, ordenha do cordão umbilical, transfusão de placenta e sangue do cordão umbilical. Resultados: Os resultados indicaram que a ordenha do cordão umbilical tem benefícios superiores ao clampeamento imediato do cordão, entre os principais estão: níveis mais elevados de hemoglobina, hematócrito e ferritina sérica e redução de complicações em recém-nascidos pré-termo, como hemorragia intraventricular e necessidade de transfusão sanguínea. Quando comparado ao clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical, tem benefícios semelhantes, mas a ordenha é considerada um método mais rápido de transfusão de sangue da placenta. Conclusões: A ordenha do cordão umbilical tem potencial semelhante ao clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical, portanto, pode ser uma alternativa às enfermeiras obstetras e parteiras quando o clampeamento tardio do cordão não pode ser executado a fim de garantir os benefícios da transfusão placentária ao neonato.

A Comparison of Strategies for Managing the Umbilical Cord at Birth in Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rates of practice, and the associations between different cord management strategies at birth (delayed cord clamping [DCC], umbilical cord milking [UCM], and early cord clamping [ECC]) and mortality or major morbidity, rates of blood transfusion, and peak serum bilirubin in a large national cohort of very preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively studied preterm infants <33 weeks of gestation admitted to the Canadian Neonatal Network between January 2015 and December 2017. Patients who received ECC (<30 seconds), UCM, or DCC (≥30 seconds) were compared. Multiple generalized linear/quantile logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Of 12 749 admitted infants, 9729 were included; 4916 (50.5%) received ECC, 394 (4.1%) UCM, and 4419 (45.4%) DCC. After adjustment for potential confounders identified between groups in univariate analyses, the odds of mortality or major morbidity were higher in the ECC group when compared with UCM group (aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.35). Mortality and intraventricular hemorrhage were associated with ECC as compared with DCC (aOR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.22-2.1] and aOR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.19-1.41], respectively). The odds of severe intraventricular hemorrhage were higher with UCM compared with DCC (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05-1.81). Rates of blood transfusion were higher with ECC compared with UCM and DCC (aOR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.31-2.14] and aOR, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.35-2.09], respectively), although peak serum bilirubin levels were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Both DCC and UCM were associated with better short-term outcomes than ECC; however, the odds of severe intraventricular hemorrhage were higher with UCM compared with DCC.

Stem Cell Composition of Umbilical Cord Blood Following Milking Compared with Delayed Clamping of the Cord Appears Better Suited for Promoting Hematopoiesis.

In comparing placental transfusion strategies, blood obtained from an umbilical cord that has been "milked" vs one in which clamping was simply delayed contains mesenchymal stromal cells in addition to solely hematopoietic stem cells, a composition more favorable for hematopoiesis, as suggested by its superior rescue of lethally irradiated bone marrow-depleted mice.

Clamping the Umbilical Cord in Premature Deliveries (CUPiD): Neuromonitoring in the Immediate Newborn Period in a Randomized, Controlled Trial of Preterm Infants Born at <32 Weeks of Gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare cerebral activity and oxygenation in preterm infants (<32 weeks of gestation) randomized to different cord clamping strategies. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm infants born at <32 weeks of gestation were randomized to immediate cord clamping, umbilical cord milking (cord stripped 3 times), or delayed cord clamping for 60 seconds with bedside resuscitation. All infants underwent electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral near infrared spectroscopy for the first 72 hours after birth. Neonatal primary outcome measures were quantitative measures of the EEG (17 features) and near infrared spectroscopy over 1-hour time frames at 6 and 12 hours of life. RESULTS: Forty-five infants were recruited during the study period. Twelve infants (27%) were randomized to immediate cord clamping, 19 (42%) to umbilical cord milking, and 14 (31%) to delayed cord clamping with bedside resuscitation. There were no significant differences between groups for measures of EEG activity or cerebral near infrared spectroscopy. Three of the 45 infants (6.7%) were diagnosed with severe IVH (2 in the immediate cord clamping group, 1 in the umbilical cord milking group; P = .35). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in cerebral EEG activity and cerebral oxygenation values between cord management strategies at 6 and 12 hours. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN92719670.

Effects of Delayed Cord Clamping on 4-Month Ferritin Levels, Brain Myelin Content, and Neurodevelopment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether placental transfusion influences brain myelination at 4 months of age. STUDY DESIGN: A partially blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a level III maternity hospital in the US. Seventy-three healthy term pregnant women and their singleton fetuses were randomized to either delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC, >5 minutes) or immediate clamping (ICC, <20 seconds). At 4 months of age, blood was drawn for ferritin levels. Neurodevelopmental testing (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) was administered, and brain myelin content was measured with magnetic resonance imaging. Correlations between myelin content and ferritin levels and group-wise DCC vs ICC brain myelin content were completed. RESULTS: In the DCC and ICC groups, clamping time was 172 ± 188 seconds vs 28 ± 76 seconds (P < .002), respectively; the 48-hour hematocrit was 57.6% vs 53.1% (P < .01). At 4 months, infants with DCC had significantly greater ferritin levels (96.4 vs 65.3 ng/dL, P = .03). There was a positive relationship between ferritin and myelin content. Infants randomized to the DCC group had greater myelin content in the internal capsule and other early maturing brain regions associated with motor, visual, and sensory processing/function. No differences were seen between groups in the Mullen testing. CONCLUSION: At 4 months, infants born at term receiving DCC had greater ferritin levels and increased brain myelin in areas important for early life functional development. Endowment of iron-rich red blood cells obtained through DCC may offer a longitudinal advantage for early white matter development. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01620008.

Delayed Cord Clamping in Infants with Suspected Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

We evaluated a subset of infants with suspected intrauterine growth restriction or birth weights small for gestational age enrolled in a study of delayed cord clamping for preterm infants. Compared with immediate clamping, delayed cord clamping was associated with no apparent harm and less suspected necrotizing enterocolitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00818220 and NCT01426698.