Regional One Health’s Labor & Delivery and NICU recently received theTennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care’s (TIPQC) Gold “5 Star” recognition for optimal cord clamping.

The Optimal Cord Clamping (OCC) project is a quality improvement statewide initiative by TIPQC to promote waiting to clamp the umbilical cord until at least 60 seconds after birth. Regional One Health worked diligently to meet all the criteria to earn gold recognition.

OCC allows more blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby. The iron in the blood increases the newborn’s iron storage, which is vital for healthy brain development. Given the benefits to both full-term and preterm babies, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping for at least 30–60 seconds after birth for most babies.