Why do doctors have to clamp the umbilical cord off after birth a child?

Doctors do not have to clamp the umbilical cord off after birth. In fact, delayed cord clamping is now recommended by many medical organisations, as it has several benefits for the baby. These include:

* Increased blood volume: Delayed cord clamping allows more blood to flow from the placenta to the baby, which can increase the baby's blood volume by up to 50%. This can improve the baby's oxygen supply and help to prevent anaemia.

* Improved iron stores: The blood that flows from the placenta to the baby during delayed cord clamping contains a high concentration of iron, which is essential for the baby's development. Increased iron stores can help to prevent iron deficiency anaemia in the baby.

* Reduced risk of infection: Delayed cord clamping can help to reduce the risk of infection in the baby, as the blood from the placenta contains antimicrobial factors.

* Improved neurodevelopment: Some studies have suggested that delayed cord clamping may be associated with improved neurodevelopment in babies, although more research is needed to confirm this.

For these reasons, delayed cord clamping is now recommended by many medical organisations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. However, there are some cases in which it may not be appropriate to delay cord clamping, such as if the mother has an infection or if the baby is premature.