Umbilical cord clamping and skin-to-skin contact in deliveries from women positive for SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational study

BJOG. 2021 Apr;128(5):908-915. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.16597. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate that delayed cord clamping (DCC) is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Design, setting and participants: Prospective observational study involving epidemiological information from 403 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 between 1 March and 31 May 2020. Data were collected from 70 centres that participate in the Spanish Registry of COVID-19.

Methods: Patients' information was collected from their medical chart.

Main outcomes and measures: The rate of perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and development of the infection in neonates within 14 days postpartum.

Results: The early cord clamping (ECC) group consisted of 231 infants (57.3%) and the DCC group consisted of 172 infants (42.7%). Five positive newborns (1.7% of total tests performed) were identified with the nasopharyngeal PCR tests performed in the first 12 hours postpartum, two from the ECC group (1.7%) and three from the DCC group (3.6%). No significant differences between groups were found regarding neonatal tests for SARS-CoV-2. No confirmed cases of vertical transmission were detected. The percentage of mothers who made skin-to-skin contact within the first 24 hours after delivery was significantly higher in the DCC group (84.3% versus 45.9%). Breastfeeding in the immediate postpartum period was also significantly higher in the DCC group (77.3% versus 50.2%).

Conclusions: The results of our study show no differences in perinatal outcomes when performing ECC or DCC, and skin-to-skin contact, or breastfeeding.

Tweetable abstract: This study demonstrates that delayed cord clamping is safe in mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; safety; skin-to-skin; umbilical cord clamping; vertical transmission.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Feeding / methods
  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • COVID-19* / transmission
  • Constriction*
  • Delivery, Obstetric* / methods
  • Delivery, Obstetric* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical* / prevention & control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical* / statistics & numerical data
  • Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / methods
  • Kangaroo-Mother Care Method / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Time-to-Treatment
  • Umbilical Cord / surgery*