Umbilical Cord Blood-An Untapped Resource: Strategies to Decrease Early Red Blood Cell Transfusions and Improve Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract

Umbilical cord blood is a resource that is available to all neonates. Immediately after delivery of the fetus, cord blood can be used for the direct benefit of the premature infant. Delayed cord clamping and milking of the umbilical cord are 2 methods of transfusing additional fetal blood into the neonate after vaginal or cesarean delivery. Additionally, umbilical cord blood can be utilized for neonatal admission laboratory testing rather than direct neonatal phlebotomy. Together these strategies both increase initial neonatal total blood volume and limit immediate loss through phlebotomy.

Keywords: Cord blood; Delayed cord clamping; Intraventricular hemorrhage; Milking; Transfusion.