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Iron deficiency in young children is associated with poor neurodevelopment because of the high iron requirements during rapid brain development. Studies in low- and middle- income populations indicate that delayed (2–3 minutes) cord clamping at birth results in higher ferritin levels at age 3 to 6 months, presumably secondary to larger placental transfusion. In this study, 382 singleton term (gestational age, 37–41 weeks) infants born at a Swedish county hospital following uncomplicated pregnancies were randomized to early (within 10 seconds) or delayed (≥180 seconds) cord clamping after delivery. In both groups, infants were held 20 cm below the mother's vulva for 30 seconds and then placed on the mother's abdomen.
At 4 months, no significa…