Final answer:
Delayed cord clamping refers to the practice of waiting a few minutes to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after birth. It has several potential benefits for the newborn's health and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Delayed cord clamping refers to the practice of waiting a few minutes before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after birth. This allows more blood from the placenta to transfer to the newborn, increasing their blood volume and providing them with additional red blood cells, stem cells, and immune cells. Some potential benefits of delayed cord clamping include improved iron stores, reduced risk of anemia, better brain development, and lower risk of respiratory distress. Delayed cord clamping can also lead to a smoother transition from fetal to neonatal circulation.