Placental transfusion and onset of respiration
Philip (1973) reported measurements of residual
placental blood volume correlated with neonatal
blood volume and onset of respiration.  As for safety
or need for placental transfusion, Philip cites Botha
(1968) on handling of the umbilical cord by people
not yet influenced by academic medical advice"

    "Human studies in a primitive community serve
    to reemphasize that nature (instinct) seems to
    allow a placental transfusion to occur before the
    cord is clamped." [1, p334]

Philip's research involved 57 infants, 28 had the
cord clamped between 5 and 15 seconds after birth,
and 29 had the cord clamped after the baby was
judged to be breathing well.  Philip reported that all
infants had Apgar scores of 8 or greater at 5
minutes after birth.

Hematocrit (rather than invasive use of tracers) was
used to judge blood volume.  A striking fall in
hematocrit on the fifth day of life was seen in the
early-clamped group, as opposed to a significant
elevation in the delayed group.  This correlated with
increased residual placental blood in the early-
clamped group.

The results confirmed the finding of Redmond et al.
(1965) that placental transfusion takes place with
onset of respiration [3].  Philip found no differences
in bilirubin between the two groups and commented:

    "The fact that delayed clamping may contribute
    to hyperbilirubinemia is still used as an
    argument against this practice" [1, p341]

Philip however acknowledged the finding by Saigal et
al. (1972) of increased bilirubin levels in premature
infants allowed a placental transfusion [4].

Philip criticised the use of invasive injection of
radioactive or other foreign materials to measure
blood volume.  He concluded this paper, however,
with a call for more research employing non-invasive
measurement of residual placental blood volume and
hematocrit:

    "Further studies on infants of diabetic mothers,
    and low birth weight infants, using such
    methods, may yet allow the perinatal researcher
    to tell the obstetrician, with confidence, when to
    clamp the cord." [1, p342]

Perhaps with all of the evidence (data) in the
research literature dating back to the 19th century,
clamping the cord should be viewed as invasive.  
Philip and Saigal (2004) did come out with a
recommendation to "wait a minute" [5].

(in progress)
References
  1. Philip AG (1973) Further
    observations on placental
    transfusion.
  2. Botha MC. The management
    of the umbilical cord in
    labour.
  3. Redmond A et al. (1965)
    Relation of onset of
    respiration to placental
    transfusion.
  4. Saigal S, et al. (1972)
    Placental transfusion and
    hyperbilirubinemia in the
    premature.
  5. Philip AGS, Saigal S (2004)
    When should we clamp the
    umbilical cord?
Full References
  1. Philip AG. Further observations on placental transfusion. Obstet Gynecol.
    1973 Sep;42(3):334-43.
  2. Botha MC. The management of the umbilical cord in labour. S Afr J Obstet
    Gynaecol. 1968; 6:30-33.
  3. Redmond A, Isana S, Ingall D. Relation of onset of respiration to placental
    transfusion. Lancet. 1965 Feb 6;1:283-5.
  4. Saigal S, O'Neill A, Surainder Y, Chua LB, Usher R. Placental transfusion
    and hyperbilirubinemia in the premature. Pediatrics. 1972 Mar;49(3):406-
    19.
  5. Philip AGS, Saigal S. When should we clamp the umbilical cord?
    Neoreviews. 2004; 5: 142-154. http://neoreviews.aappublications.
    org/cgi/reprint/5/4/e142.
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