Table 3.14 - Placental Transfusion and the Hyperviscosity (Polycythemia) Syndrome.

Placenta contains 125 ml blood, 33% of total blood volume.
75 ml/kg is transferred to infant during 1st 30 sec. post-delivery
Placental separation may be impeded by immediate cord clamping.
If fetal blood volume was adequate in utero, why not afterward? Why should placental blood volume be added? To fill expanding lungs?
May be used to correct fetal anemia; however load could overload cardiovascular system.
Requires: gravity, external mechanical force (milking), uterine contraction.
Blood volume peaks, plasma and water redistribute to extravascular space, resulting in reduced blood volume and hemoconcentration.