A new Cochrane neonatal review considered the differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes with early (within 30-60 seconds of birth) or late (also known as delayed) cord clamping after birth.1 In a review of 11 trials involving 2989 mothers and their infants, no significant differences between early and late cord clamping were observed for the complication of postpartum hemorrhage. For neonatal outcomes, both benefits and harms were found for late cord clamping. A significant increase was observed in infants needing phototherapy for jaundice with late cord clamping compared with early cord clamping, accompanied by a significant increase in newborn hemoglobin levels. Although the difference in hemoglobin levels did not persist beyond 6 months, higher ferritin levels were found at 6 months in the late cord clamping group.

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