Adisak Waiketkarn¹, Densak Pongrojpaw², Athita Chanthasenanont², Kornkarn Bhamarapravatana³, Komsun Suwannarurk²

Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) in neonates who do not require immediate postnatal resuscitation had benefit for both preterm and term infants by enhancing blood volume and iron storage. However, neonatal outcomes in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain limited.

Objective: To investigate neonatal outcomes in DCC infants of GDM mothers.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a prospective cohort comparison with a historical control cohort. The data were gathered at Kuchinarai Crown Prince Hospital, Kalasin, Thailand from between July 2022 and June 2023. The study group comprised of newborns delivered to mothers with GDM who underwent DCC and immediate cord clamping (ICC) as study and control cohort groups, respectively. Demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Results: One hundred fifty subjects were recruited and divided equally. Both groups had parity in their respective cohorts. DCC group had significantly higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels and hematocrit (Hct) than ICC group at 18.8/17.5 g/dL and 59.5%/55.4%, respectively. DCC in GDM pregnant women treated with diet control alone or diet control with medication had significant higher in Hb level and Hct than ICC group at 18.7/17.4 g/dL and 59.3%/55.1%, and 19.0/17.7 g/dL and 59.9%/56.3%, respectively. Other characteristics of both groups were comparable. After birth, glucose level, hypoglycemia risk, micro-bilirubin levels at 48 hours, Agar score at 1 and 5 minutes and length of stay were comparable among both groups.

Conclusion: The present study indicated that delayed cord clamping in neonates born to mothers with GDM can increase Hb levels without causing any complications. It is recommended for all infants who do not require immediate resuscitation.

Received 4 June 2025 | Revised 14 September 2025 | Accepted 22 September 2025

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2025.12.974-979-03136