Final answer:
Delayed umbilical cord clamping for 1-3 minutes is recommended for vigorous newborns to improve iron stores and blood volume. The exact timing can be influenced by the baby's condition and the need for any immediate medical support.
Step-by-step explanation:
Current recommendations suggest that delayed umbilical cord clamping (usually for 1-3 minutes) in vigorous babies can be beneficial, allowing additional blood flow from the placenta to the newborn, which may contain important red blood cells and stem cells. This practice, except in cases where medical intervention is required, helps increase the infant's iron stores and provides a blood volume boost, which is associated with lower rates of iron deficiency during infancy. However, it's important for healthcare providers to monitor the newborn's condition and ensure that the baby is breathing well and has good color and tone before proceeding with delayed cord clamping.
The guidelines can vary based on the healthcare institutions and updates in medical research. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the practice of waiting 1-3 minutes after birth before clamping the cord in vigorous, full-term babies. Yet, in cases of fetal distress or the need for immediate resuscitation, the clamping may occur sooner to ensure the wellbeing of the newborn.