The Collection Process
Is cord blood collection possible for Caesarean and Home Birth?
How is the umbilical cord blood collected?
Is there any risk to my baby or the mother?
When is the cord blood sample collected?
Cord blood can only be collected from the umbilical cord and placenta for a short period following the birth, once the cord has been clamped and the placenta delivered. It has to be achieved before the clotting reactions make blood collection impossible.
Why is the maternal sample needed and what testing is performed?
Will either my baby or I feel any discomfort during the collection?
If I choose to delay cord clamping can I still do cord blood banking?
- World Health Organization (WHO) ─ between 1 to 3 minutes1
- Royal College of OB-GYNs (RCOG) – 30 seconds to 2 minutes2
- The American College of OB-GYNs (ACOG) – 30 seconds to 60 seconds3
All of the above international bodies suggested not to go over 3 to 5 minutes before clamping due to the high incidence of increased risk for neonatal phototherapy, higher risk of polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia and other neonatal disorders
1Abalos E. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes: RHL commentary (last revised: 2 March 2009). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization.
2Scientific Impact Paper No. 14: Clamping of the Umbilical Cord and Placental Transfusion. (2015). The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Obstet Gynecol, 17(3), 216-216.
3Timing of umbilical cord clamping after birth. Committee Opinion No. 543. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2012;120:1522–6.