Beliefs and practices of obstetric care providers regarding umbilical cord clamping.

The optimal timing for umbilical cord clamping after birth has yet to be established, and controversy exists. There is evidence of potentially significant health benefits of delayed cord clamping for both full-term and preterm newborns, but this practice has not been widely adopted. This column takes a second look at two recent studies in which researchers examined the beliefs and practices of obstetric care providers regarding umbilical cord clamping in North America. Nurses who are aware of the latest science and who understand both existing practice patterns as well as practice barriers to delayed clamping can be leaders in and advocates for change.