Maternity Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete Resource for Exam Success!

Delaying cord clamping lets more blood move from the placenta into the newborn, increasing the infant’s blood volume and iron stores. This helps reduce the risk of iron-deficiency anemia in infancy and supports better early stabilization after birth. The main exception is when the baby needs immediate resuscitation at birth; in that scenario, quick clamping may be necessary, and resuscitation can be performed with the cord intact or after initial stabilization if feasible. This reflects why the option describing delaying clamping to improve placental transfusion and iron stores, with the resuscitation consideration as the exception, is correct. It isn’t limited to cesarean deliveries, and it doesn’t aim to reduce iron stores.