Delayed Clamping and Milking the Umbilical Cord in Preterm Infants

This is a randomized controlled trial that will compare the effects of delayed umbilical cord clamping to umbilical cord milking in preterm infants (less than 34 weeks gestation). The infants\' hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will be evaluated, as well as the rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and blood transfusions. The hypothesis is that milking the umbilical cord prior to clamping is superior to simply delayed cord clamping, presumably providing an increased blood volume to the preterm neonate improving its outcomes.