It’s so interesting to see how medical evidence evolves, and changes, over time. The result of course is that clinical practice evolves and changes as well. The story of umbilical cord management at time of delivery highlights this very issue very well. The ACOG first recommended delayed cord clamping (DCC) in 2012, for preterm infants, as data showed marked improvement in neonatal outcomes in that population. In this episode, we will briefly walk through the timeline from 2012 to the latest update on DCC which came from the AAP in October 2025, just one month after the ACOG had their DCC update. This story also exemplifies how professional medical societies don’t always have the SAME recommendations, with small tweaks, in their guidance. So, Dr Chapa and I will summarize these key updates…Listen in for details!

1. ACOG 2012: DCC for preterm infants only

2. ACOG 2016: ACOG Recommends Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping for All Healthy Infants, including term: https://mdedge.com/obgynnews/article/121349/obstetrics/acog-supports-delayed-umbilical-cord-clamping-term-infants

3. ACOG Dec 2020, CO 814: Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth

4. ACOG Obstet Gynecol. January 2022; 139(1): 121–137. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004625. Management of Placental Transfusion to Neonates After Delivery

5. ACOG (ePUB July ) Sept 2025: ACOG releases a Clinical Practice Update: An Update to Clinical Guidance for Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping After Birth in Preterm Neonates

6. AHA/AAP Oct 2025 Update: Neonatal Resuscitation: 2025 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care