Can I practice delayed cord clamping and still bank the stem cells?

Can You Do Both Delayed Cord Clamping and Cord Blood Banking? Here’s What You Need to Know

The umbilical cord is more than just a physical connection between you and your baby—it’s a lifeline. For months, it’s delivered oxygen, nutrients, and stem-cell-rich blood. Once your baby is born, that cord still has one final gift to give. But here’s where many parents have questions: Should I delay clamping the cord? And if I do, can I still bank the cord blood?

At Anja Health, we want you to know this: You don’t have to choose. In most births, you can do both delayed cord clamping and cord blood banking—and you absolutely should if possible.

What is delayed cord clamping?

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) means waiting a little while before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord after birth. Instead of clamping in the first 15–30 seconds (as has been common in many hospitals), DCC involves waiting at least one minute—often up to two or three—or until the cord stops pulsing.

Why wait? Because the placenta continues to pump blood into the baby for up to a few minutes after birth. This additional blood transfer can carry iron, oxygen, stem cells, and other nutrients that support your baby’s early growth and development.

Why does this matter for your baby?

Research shows that delaying cord clamping benefits both full-term and preterm infants:

• For preterm babies, it decreases the need for blood transfusions and reduces the risk of brain bleeding or needing mechanical ventilation. It also increases hemoglobin and red blood cell volume.
• For full-term babies, it boosts blood volume and provides iron stores that can last up to six months. This can help prevent anemia, especially in breastfed babies.
• For birthing parents, studies show no increase in postpartum bleeding or complications when DCC is practiced for 1–3 minutes.

This is why major medical organizations like the World Health Organization, ACOG, and the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend DCC as the standard of care—when the baby is stable and there's no medical emergency.

What about cord blood banking?

Cord blood banking means collecting and preserving the stem-cell-rich blood from the umbilical cord after birth. These powerful cells can be used in over 80 conditions today—from blood disorders to certain cancers—and clinical trials are exploring many more uses.

Some parents worry that DCC might reduce the volume of cord blood available for banking. But here’s the reassuring truth: in most cases, there’s still plenty of cord blood to collect after a short delay.

At Anja Health, we recommend a delay of up to two minutes—which still allows for effective cord blood collection while giving your baby the benefits of that final transfusion. Our lab is trained to work with whatever volume is collected, using a personalized processing approach that ensures maximum cell recovery.

What does the process look like?

When you give birth with an Anja Kit:

1. Your provider delivers your baby and waits up to 2 minutes to clamp the cord.
2. During that time, your baby receives a final boost of iron-rich blood.
3. After clamping, the remaining blood in the cord is collected by your provider into a special collection bag.
4. A medical courier picks up the sample and transports it directly to our lab in New Jersey for processing and cryopreservation.

Your care team will always prioritize your baby’s health first. If they need to clamp earlier for medical reasons, that’s okay. But when there’s time to delay—even briefly—both DCC and CBB can be done safely together.

Still worried there won’t be “enough” cord blood?

It’s a common concern, but the science is on your side. Studies have shown that even after 1–2 minutes of delayed cord clamping, there is often sufficient volume and cell count for successful cord blood banking—especially with trained professionals handling the collection and processing.

Our lab is equipped to process even smaller samples and still retrieve meaningful stem cells. That’s why Anja Health’s personalized lab approach stands out—we’re focused on maximizing outcomes for every family, not just hitting volume quotas.

Delayed cord clamping gives your baby a healthier start. Cord blood banking protects their future. With the right team and timing, you can confidently do both.

Choosing to bank with Anja Health means choosing a partner that supports evidence-based care, modern birth practices, and your family’s long-term wellness. Get your kit today to secure your baby’s future health—starting at just $49/month with flexible payment plans.

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