IMPACT OF LATE UMBILICAL CORD CLAMPING ON NEONATAL IRON AND FERRITIN STORES

Abstract

Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) has been increasingly recognized as a simple and low-cost intervention with positive impacts on neonatal health, particularly in optimizing iron stores and serum ferritin levels. This study aimed to critically review recent literature on the relationship between DCC and neonatal hematological parameters. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scielo, and BVS databases between 2015 and 2025, including randomized clinical trials, population cohorts, and systematic reviews; only studies assessing ferritin or iron markers in term and preterm newborns were included, totaling 25 publications. Results showed a consistent increase in ferritin levels between 2 and 6 months of age in neonates subjected to delayed clamping, with a reduction in the prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia, especially in vulnerable populations. Systematic reviews also noted a slight increase in the incidence of jaundice requiring phototherapy, without significant clinical impact. These findings reinforce delayed cord clamping as an effective and safe strategy for the prevention of infant anemia, recommending its routine incorporation into obstetric practice.