Cord ‘milking’ can improve blood flow in Preemies

According to a study by Natioanl Institutes of Health scientists finds that “a new technique used to increase the flow of blood from the umbilical cord to the circulatory system of premature infants delivered by cesarean appears offer greater benefits”. The study is published online in Pediatrics.

According to the study, the technique, known as cord milking, consists of encircling the cord with thumb and forefingers, gently squeezing, and slowly pushing the blood through the cord to the infant's abdomen.

For the study, the researcher’s team enrolled 197 infants, of which 154 were delivered by Caesarean, with 75 assigned at random to the umbilical cord milking group and 79 assigned to the delayed clamping group. They found that cord milking technique improved the blood flow in preterm infants by Caesarean section.
 
"The study results are very encouraging and the results need to be confirmed in a larger number of births, but it appears that umbilical cord milking may prove to be of great benefit to preterm infants delivered via Caesarean" said Tonse Raju, chief of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD's pregnancy and perinatology branch.

By Lizitha