title: Umbilical Cord Milking and Hematological Parameters in Moderate to Late Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of umbilical cord milking on hematological parameters at 6 weeks of age in late preterm neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care center of Northern India during 2013-14.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 moderate to late preterm neonates randomly allocated to early cord clamping or umbilical cord milking group (100 in each).
  
  
  METHODS
  In milking group, 25 cm length of cord was milked towards the baby thrice after separating (within 30 s) it from placenta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemoglobin and serum ferritin at 6 weeks of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SD) serum ferritin [428.9 (217.6) vs. 237.5 (118.6) ng/mL; P< 0.01] and hemoglobin [12.1 (1.5) vs. 10.4 (1.2) gm/dL; P<0.01] at 6 weeks were significantly higher in umbilical cord milking group. In early neonatal period, hemodynamic and hematological parameters were not significantly different. Higher incidence of jaundice with higher phototherapy rates (33% vs. 9%; P<0.01) were noted in umbilical cord milking group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In preterm neonates, umbilical cord milking at birth enhances iron stores at 6 weeks of age. Higher phototherapy rates with this intervention are a matter of concern.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, UP; and *Department of Pediatrics, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan; India. Correspondence to: Dr Amit Upadhyay, Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, India. au.llrm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bimlesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gothwal
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
authors.forename: Payas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Kirti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007565:Jaundice / Q000453:epidemiology; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins