A Bradford hospital is leading national research looking at the long-term effects on a premature baby’s development depending on how early its umbilical cord is cut.

The pilot study at Bradford Royal Infirmary will look at the difference in a newborn’s progression up until the age of two, as part of work with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Bradford Teaching Hospital’s Trust started deferred cord clamping in January, meaning pre-term babies’ umbilical cord will be cut 30 seconds after birth and full-term babies will be left for one minute, as there is evidence it’s beneficial to newborns.

Dr Sam Oddie, a consultant neonatologist with the Bradford trust, said the hospital started its study into cord clamping on Monday.

“Working with colleagues at the NIHR and with colleagues in Nottingham and other cities in the UK we’re going to try to establish whether babies have more or less breathing difficulties, more or less bowl trouble, more or less success with later feeding,” he said.

Parents will be asked if they want to take part then a decision will be made by medics as to when to cut a newborn’s umbilical cord.

Usually at the birth of a pre-term baby, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut straight away, and the baby is taken to a special table at the side of the room for treatment.

Clamping the cord cuts the blood flow between the placenta and the baby, but medical experts such as The Royal College of Midwives, say vital blood and nutrients are passed from mother to baby after labour and cutting the cord too soon could be damaging for the baby.

Waiting a few minutes before clamping the cord may help the baby to adjust, but it is not known when the best time is to clamp the cord for very early babies – those born before 32 weeks.

Babies who are part of the trial will be treated at the mother’s bedside while still attached to their mum.

Dr Oddie said national guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) currently do not recommend deferred clamping, but said he thought it possible that it might start recommending it for pre-term babies.

“NICE is in a very difficult position, Most babies are born to full term and there’s not enough evidence to make a decision either way,” he said.

Baby Arlo is doing well

New mum Rowan Carresi gave birth to premature baby Arlo last month at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Although its study had not started, she was given the opportunity of deferred cord clamping.
It meant the 2lb 3oz baby was treated at her side, while still attached to her, rather than being taken to the other side of the room for check-ups.
Mrs Carresi, 42, was taken to the Bradford hospital from Lincoln as it could offer the level of maternity care she needed.
She said: “Dr Oddie came to see us twice when I was in labour and talked about the whole process, but also asked us if we’d be interested in doing this.
“I knew I had to turn my body to the left otherwise the baby wouldn’t reach with the cord.”
“It’s all a blur in one sense, but in another it’s not, because I could see him and they said I could touch him.”
Consultant neonatologist Dr Sam Oddie said: “With Arlo, we stabilised him right next to his mum. For her that was a good thing, but we don’t know if everybody will see it that way.”
Baby Arlo, who was born at 28 weeks, now weighs 3lb 9oz. He has been transferred to Burnley Hospital, where his parents live.
The five-week-old will likely stay in hospital until his due date of June 11.
Mrs Carresi said: “The main thing for him now is to keep growing. I think so much of why he’s doing well is because of his birth and first two weeks of life at Bradford. That first period of time is so important.”