Background: Premature neonates are susceptible to anemic problems with low iron storage. Delayed cord clamping (DCC) has been studied and its beneficial value has been supported by existing research in newborns with very low birth weights. But there were only few data pertinent to late preterm infants.
Objective: To investigate the effect of delayed cord clamping (DCC) as compared with immediate cord clamping (ICC) on the hematocrit level at 48 hours in late preterm neonates after vaginal delivery.
Material and Method: The design consisted of a randomized controlled trial. One hundred pregnant women who were admitted because of preterm labor (GA 34-36+6 week) in active phase were recruited and allocated into two groups, designated as the ICC and DCC groups. The DCC were defined as the case in which patients underwent the umbilical cord clamping at 120 seconds after birth. At 48 hours after delivery, both the hematocrit (Hct) and microbilirubin (MB) levels of newborns were determined. Also, neonatal and maternal complications were recorded.
Result: Eighty-six neonates were analyzed. There were no statistical differences in the baseline data of maternal symptoms and newborns between the two groups. Neonates in the DCC group had a significantly higher hematocrit level than the ICC group (55.4% and 47.6%, respectively: p = 0.02). The MB level in the DCC group was also significantly higher than in the ICC group (9.4% and 8.6 mg %, respectively: p = 0.04). However, phototherapy and length of hospitalization in both groups were not different. There were no serious maternal and fetal complications in either group.
Conclusion: The DCC procedure could raise the Hct level in the late preterm newborns without serious adverse effects. But more evidence is needed to explore the possible benefit of this procedure.

Keywords: Delayed cord clamping, Late preterm, Hematocrit, Microbilirubin