As part of a growing global network, I would like to campaign to lobby the  National Institute of Clinical Excellence to change the Current Guidelines which recommend Immediate Cord Clamping (NON evidence based practice, proven to be detrimental to babies and normally performed before baby has breathed) to recommend Delayed Cord Clamping for at least 3-5 minutes, but ideally until the cord stops pulsating. (Beneficial evidence based practice)

NICE recommendations are based on the best available evidence of the most effective care.

NICE have formally informed me that they won't publish new guidelines until November 2014, despite mounting evidence to prove that Immediate Cord Clamping can be deterimental to babies.

Immediate Cord Clamping of the Umbilical Cord is practised in many hospitals.

This has consequences.

Research has shown that Immediate Cord Clamping deprives the baby of up to 40% of its intended blood supply. Reasearch by Farrar, Duley et al shows that leaving the cord intact leads to a weight gain of up to 210g in the five minutes following birth. The blood that the baby is deprived of contains Stem cells, Blood cells and other natural hormones, intended to complete the birth process.

Immediate Cord Clamping is a major risk factor for anaemia in newborns. Research studies by Van Rheenan, Andersson/Brabin and Mercer have shown that Immediate Cord Clamping leads to long term anaemia which impedes learning and development.
Hospitals throughout the Western world have been practising Immediate Cord Clamping for 40-50 years and are now well into second generation cord clamping. 

We lack the knowledge about the consequences of Immediate Cord Clamping, but there is NO evidence to support Immediate Cord Clamping as routine practice.

Patience is the only thing that is needed to leave the cord intact.

World Health Organisation, UNICEF, International Confederation of Midwives, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal College of Midwives all support Delayed Cord Clamping.

Immediate Cord Clamping needs stopping immediately.

Common sense must prevail.