Abstract
The incidence of feto-maternal transfusion in 200 normal women was determined from blood samples taken when labour had become established, with contractions occurring approximately every 5 minutes, and again 30 minutes after delivery.
In 90 instances, after cessation of umbilical artery pulsation, the umbilical cord was ligated and cut, allowing free flow from the placenta. In the remaining 110 instances the cord was cut between two pairs of forceps.
No difference in feto-maternal transfusion in the two groups could be demonstrated.