Effects of umbilical cord milking on premature neonates’ and mothers’ outcomes

Abstract

Background: Umbilical Cord Milking (UCM) is a safe and likely technique for both the mothers and their neonates which improve the neonatal outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of umbilical cord milking on premature neonates' and mothers' outcomes.

Methods: Design: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Setting: Emergency and Labor Unit of Women's Health University Hospital and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Assiut University Children Hospital were the setting which the study was implemented. Subjects: It included 80 mothers and their premature neonates. The subjects were divided randomly into two groups (40 premature neonates who were received the UCM as a study group and 40 premature neonates as a control group who received the Immediate Cord Clamping [ICC]). Tool: One structured interview questionnaire was designed especially for this study. It included two parts: Personal and clinical data of the studied mothers and premature neonates.

Results: The Hemoglobin (Hb) level significantly increased in the study group when compared to the control group within 6 hours of birth (12.11 vs. 10.61) and at 36-48 hours after UCM (12.27 vs. 11.32). Also, UCM had significantly improved the need for blood transfusion, death rate, and length of hospital stay among premature neonates in the study group.

Conclusions and recommendations: UCM improved preterm neonates' outcomes as increasing Hb level, less need for blood transfusion, and decline incidence of death, lowers length of hospital stay. Recommendations: Increasing awareness of neonatology, pediatric, and obstetric nurses about benefits and technique of UCM through health education program.