Delayed cord clamping in preterm dichorionic twin gestations^*

Abstract

Objective: To examine the practice of delayed cord clamping and associated neonatal outcomes in preterm dichorionic twin gestations.

Study design: This is a retrospective cohort study of women delivering dichorionic-diamniotic twin gestations between 23 and 32 weeks of gestation at a single large academic center between 2013 and 2015. Neonatal outcomes of twins receiving delayed cord clamping were compared to those who did not.

Results: Of 58 eligible women delivering dichorionic twins, eight (13.8%) had both neonates receive delayed cord clamping, resulting in 16 neonates who received delayed cord clamping and 100 who did not. Neonates who received delayed cord clamping had no difference in umbilical artery pH, 5 min Apgar score, NICU length of stay, need for pressors, neonatal death, or other adverse outcomes.

Conclusions: Delayed cord clamping in dichorionic twin gestations born at 32 weeks or less is feasible and in this small cohort does not appear to be associated with worse neonatal outcomes.

Keywords:

• Delayed cord clamping
• neonatal outcomes
• twins

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

LMY was supported by the NICHD K12 HD050121-11 at the time of the study. Research reported in this publication was supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grant Number UL1TR001422. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.