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‘Milking’ umbilical cords may help some sickly newborns

Pushing blood from the cord into the abdomen could provide vital nutrients to these infants

A photo of a crying baby laying on her back on a pillow in front of a window.

The timing of when medical teams cut the umbilical cord can have implications for the health of newborns, like the one pictured above.

Montes-Bradley/E+/Getty Images Plus

By Luis Melecio-Zambrano

Giving birth to a child who is unresponsive or struggling to breathe is a harrowing experience. The medical team must quickly cut the umbilical cord and then rush the baby to aid.