Umbilical cord clamping and skin-to-skin contact in deliveries from
women positive for COVID-19
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 March 1st
and May 31st, 2020. Data were collected from 70 centers that participate
in the Spanish Registry of COVID-19. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The
rate of perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and development of COVID-19
disease in neonates at day 14 of the delivery. RESULTS: The Early cord
clamping (ECC) group consisted of 231 infants (57.3%), whereas the DCC
group consisted of 172 infants (42.7%). A total of 5 positive cases
(1.7% of total tests performed) were identified with the nasopharyngeal
PCR tests, 2 from the ECC group (1.7%) and 3 from the DCC group
(3.6%). No significant differences between groups were found regarding
neonatal tests for COVID-19. 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 have been similar
to early cord clamping practices, no skin-to-skin contact, and
suppression or delay of breastfeeding. FUNDING: This study was fully
funded with public funds from the Institute of Health Carlos III and
co-financed with FEDER funds. KEYWORDS: COVID-19, umbilical cord
clamping, skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, vertical transmission, safety.