Clampaggio del funicolo, donazione e conservazione del sangue cordonale: il sapere delle donne e il pensiero delle ostetriche [della] clinica mangiagalli, Fondazione Irccs Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Introduction: The physiological placental transfusion occurring at birth helps the newborn in the adaptation to extra uterine life, if the cord blood has not been cut at an early stage. Late clamping establishes a lot of benefits for the baby: it reduces the impact of iron deficiency anaemia and the need of transfusions, stabilises body temperature, increases cardiovascular stability and saturation, determines a higher rate of breastfeeding. Furthermore, placental blood is rich in haemopoietic stem cells, which are immature, undifferentiated cells and able to give rise to peripheral blood cells. These cells can be used for the treatment of different disease isolated thanks to the cord blood draw. The collected placental blood can be use for public donation, it can be destined for family use banking or for autologous storage (currently against the Italian law). Stem cells have recently been identified in the amniotic fluid and in the breast milk. Aim: The goal of this composition is to investigate the knowledge of women and the thought of midwives concerning the cord clamping, the cord blood donation and the storage. Materials and methods: 153 pregnant women and 45 midwives have been recruited in Clinica Mangiagalli. The recruitment has happened through the administration of two questionnaires with questions concerning the cord clamping and the cord blood donation. Results: Data have shown that women have on average good knowledge of the cord blood donation and stem cells, even if they are less informed about the different uses of cord blood and about the procedure of delayed cord clamping. The majority of midwives considers important to inform pregnant women about the existence of this two procedures. Discussion: The prevalence of pregnant woman don’t know that the delayed cord clamping and the draw of cord blood with the ex utero procedure determine a reduced collection of placental blood compared to the in utero procedure, after the physiological placental transfusion to the newborn. Conclusions: Women, during pregnancy, should receive more perfect information about these two procedures, so they can take a more conscious decision about the use of their baby’s cord blood.