Novel Resuscitation Unit Boosts Health of Newborn Babies

An innovative resuscitation unit facilitates delayed cord clamping (DCC) for neonates, promoting many health benefits.

The Inditherm Lifestart resuscitation unit offers a compact design and the ability to deliver all the required functions close enough to the mother, thus permitting the umbilical cord to be left intact for the critical first few minutes. Most studies show that at least three minutes of DCC gives the most health benefits, in addition to the emotional and bonding advantage, as the baby does not need to be separated from its mother in the first minutes after delivery. The unit was designed with guidance from a multicenter team of obstetricians and pediatricians who have been conducting extensive research on DCC.


Among the health benefits of DCC are a significant increase in blood volume; continued supply of oxygenated blood; lower risk of requiring transfusion; reduction in anemia and iron deficiency; and a potential reduction in long-term cognitive and behavioral problems. The Inditherm Lifestart resuscitation unit is a product of Inditherm Medical (Rotherham, United Kingdom), and complements a range of ancillary products, such as the CosyCrib baby nest and hoods and covers which fit to cribs, cots, and incubators, to protect babies from light and draughts and reduce the impact of external noise.

“The evidence for DCC is very compelling and there is a growing clamor from the clinical community to change historic practice,” said Nick Bettles, CEO of Inditherm Medical. “We are delighted to be leading the market by providing the necessary equipment to enable widest uptake of such an important change, which will inevitably lead to healthier babies.”

The strength of the evidence favoring DCC, as indicated in many studies, has led to changes in the guidelines issued by many key bodies in obstetrics and gynecology, such as the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (London, united Kingdom).

Related Links:
Inditherm Medical
World Health Organization
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists