Each year, thousands of newborns do not breathe (sufficiently) at birth and require medical support immediately after birth, whether born at term or prematurely. Concord Neonatal, emerging from pioneering research at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), is reshaping how the first moments of these vulnerable babies are managed.

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A gentler start to life

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The minutes following birth are a critical transition for all newborns who need support, not only those born prematurely. In many delivery rooms and operating rooms, standard practice still involves clamping the umbilical cord almost immediately, separating the baby from its family to provide immediate care.

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Over a decade of international research has shown that delaying cord clamping improves outcomes by allowing continued blood flow of oxygen-rich blood from the placenta to the newborn baby. Concord Neonatal builds on this evidence by enabling stabilisation to happen without breaking the physical connection between mother and child, until the baby is stabilised and breathing on its own.

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Keeping mother and baby together

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At the heart of the approach is the Concord Birth Trolley, a specially designed mobile trolley that can be positioned over the mother, allowing clinicians to monitor and support the newborn while the umbilical cord remains intact.

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The trolley forms the practical foundation of the Concord Birth Flow, a clinical workflow that supports newborns as they transition from the placenta as the organ of oxygenation to the baby's own lungs. Crucially, this process avoids the immediate separation of baby and mother when urgent medical intervention is required.

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Avoiding the shock of separation

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Concord Neonatal describes its approach as enabling a “shock-free birth.” By maintaining blood flow from the placenta until the baby is physiologically stable, the method avoids the abrupt circulatory changes associated with immediate cord clamping, thereby reducing the risk of complications and even death.

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Mounted monitoring and respiratory support equipment allow care teams to intervene when needed, while keeping the newborn close to the mother. This represents a meaningful shift towards more physiological practices, particularly for infants who are most vulnerable at birth.

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From LUMC to clinical practice

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The company’s technology is rooted in research led by Prof. Arjan te Pas at LUMC, who studied how newborns establish breathing and circulation after birth. Their work led to the development of physiological-based cord clamping, in which the cord is clamped only once the baby is breathing effectively.

Collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and engineers translated this scientific insight into a practical clinical solution. Concord Neonatal exemplifies how Leiden’s research ecosystem supports innovations that move from laboratory and clinic to real-world care.

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Shaping future standards of birth

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Concord Neonatal is now focused on expanding the use of physiological-based cord clamping worldwide, with almost 100 hospitals across Europe already implementing the Concord Birth Flow. Ongoing clinical studies continue to strengthen the evidence for physiological-based cord clamping across a range of birth scenarios.

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Working closely with an expanding network of hospitals, the company is raising awareness, providing education and promoting the Concord Birth Flow to support wider adoption. As clinical practice evolves, the innovation is well-positioned to help redefine how the first moments of life are managed for newborns who need support, without separating them from their mother.

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Written by Lyna Meyrer