The umbilical cord: a study of 1,000 consecutive deliveries.

OBJECTIVE

To establish base-line data on cord length among Igbo parturients of Eastern Nigeria, especially relationship between age and parity, gestation length, sex and weight of newborn, placental weight.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of 1,000 consecutive deliveries.

SETTING

Mission hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Placental length of umbilical cord, placental weight, and prenatal data.

RESULTS

Cord length varied between 15 cm and 130 cm (mean, 51.5 cm). No relationship found to parity, maternal age, or sex of baby. Increase in cord length with birthweight and gestational age, up to term. Correlation between umbilical length and placental weight, with a variation according to lie of the fetus: longest in cord encirclement and unstable lie, shortest in breech presentation, transverse lie, and twin birth.