An interventional study of Umbilical Cord Drainage and Standard Active Management of Third Stage (No Cord Drainage) in Postpartum Hemorrhage, sponsored by Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. Recruiting at 2 sites in Honduras. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 49 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-13.
Sponsored by Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
This study aims to analyze whether there is a significant difference in the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage between women who underwent umbilical cord drainage and those who did not. Variables such as estimated blood loss volume, drop in hemoglobin levels, and the need for additional maneuvers or treatments to control hemorrhage will be examined. The research will be conducted under a parallel-group clinical trial design at the Hospital Escuela Universitario. Post-birth umbilical cord drainage may contribute to a lower frequency of postpartum hemorrhage compared to not performing it.
This is a single-blind, parallel-group, superiority efficacy clinical trial. The intervention involves passive drainage of blood from the umbilical cord immediately after cord clamping and cutting, allowing it to flow into a calibrated drape. The control group receives standard active management of the third stage of labor without cord drainage. The primary objective is to compare postpartum blood loss between the groups. Secondary objectives include comparing pre- and postpartum hemoglobin levels, the need for additional therapeutic interventions (uterotonics, uterine revision, transfusion), incidence of adverse events related to cord management, and maternal satisfaction using the Birth Satisfaction Scale. The study plans to enroll 400 participants (200 per group) over approximately 6 months at a single center.
469 studies on the registry are indexed under Postpartum Hemorrhage; 76 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 400 is above the median of 148 across 360 interventional studies indexed under Postpartum Hemorrhage.
Browse Postpartum Hemorrhage studies →Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 8 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hemoglobin (Hb)
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Procedure: Umbilical Cord Drainage. Passive drainage of blood from the cut maternal end of the umbilical cord into a calibrated collection drape after birth.
Procedure: Umbilical Cord Drainage
Other: Standard Active Management of Third Stage. Includes administration of uterotonics, controlled cord traction, and monitoring, but no specific cord drainage.
Other: Standard Active Management of Third Stage (No Cord Drainage)
Following delivery of the newborn and immediate clamping/cutting of the umbilical cord, the maternal end of the cord is unclamped and allowed to drain passively. The cord is held over a sterile, graduated collection drape (Brass-V Drape) to facilitate the complete, gravity-dependent emptying of the residual placental blood (approximately 50-100 mL) prior to placental delivery. The procedure is completed within 1-3 minutes, after which standard controlled cord traction is applied to assist placental expulsion. This is a non-invasive adjunct to active management of the third stage of labor.
This arm receives the standard, evidence-based active management of the third stage of labor, as per institutional protocol, without the specific addition of umbilical cord drainage. The procedure includes immediate administration of a prophylactic uterotonic agent (e.g., oxytocin), delayed cord clamping (as per routine practice), controlled cord traction with counter-pressure on the uterus (Brandt-Andrews maneuver) to assist placental delivery, and uterine massage after placental expulsion. All blood loss is collected and measured in a standard graduated drape. This represents the current standard of care against which the experimental intervention is compared.
Change in Postpartum Blood Loss Volume
Difference between estimated blood loss volume in the first 24 hours postpartum and an immediate postpartum baseline. Measured using a calibrated drape (Brass-V Drape)
Time frame: From delivery until 24 hours postpartum.
Change in Hemoglobin Levels
Difference between pre-delivery and postpartum (6-24 hours) hemoglobin levels (g/dL).
Time frame: Pre-delivery and at 6-24 hours postpartum.
Need for Additional Therapeutic Interventions
Requirement for additional uterotonics, uterine revision, blood transfusion, or surgical procedures to control hemorrhage.
Time frame: First 24 hours postpartum.
Incidence of Cord Management-Related Adverse Events
Occurrence of events such as retained placenta, hypovolemic shock.
Time frame: First 24 hours postpartum
Maternal Satisfaction Score
Maternal satisfaction with the intrapartum experience is measured using the validated Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). This is a 10-item self-report questionnaire with three subscales: Quality of Care, Women's Personal Attributes, and Stress Experienced During Labor. Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale (0-3). The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with a higher total score indicating greater birth satisfaction.
Time frame: At 2 hours postpartum.
Plan to share: Undecided — It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available. The final decision will depend on the specific requirements of the target publication journal, further consultation with the local ethics committee regarding data sharing agreements, and a thorough assessment of our capacity to properly anonymize the data while preserving its scientific value for secondary analysis.
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Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras