A delay in clamping the umbilical cord and keeping the baby below the level of the placenta can result in fetal:

This can result in fetal polycythemia. A delay in cord clamping could cause too many red blood cells in the baby's circulation. Increase in the red blood cell count is also caused by low oxygen levels. Babies diagnosed with polycythemia may have respiratory distress, jaundice, lethargy because too many RBCs could thicken the blood thus slowing down blood circulation all throughout the body.