Abstract:
Umbilical cord length, diameter, coiling pattern, placental insertion site and structural components were studied in 1020 full term birth neonates of both sexes, single and twin, of normal vaginal delivery, between February to September 2013, In Omdurman Maternity Hospital in Sudan, with their mother height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Significant correlations were detected between neonatal weight, and the cord length, diameter, coils pattern, insertion site and true knot, but there is no correlation between the neonatal weight with cord cyst, false knot or blood vessels. Also there is strong correlation between cord length with coils, diameter, knot, sex, neonatal height and socioeconomic status of the mother, but not with BMI of the mother. A minimal difference was found in cord length and diameter between male and female and single and twin birth. Male appeared with longer cord and big weight than female. However there is no big difference in the cord length measurement before and after birth. Any cord shows coils, but the degree of coils was varying according to fetal gender, cord length, diameter and mother parity. Most coils were directed to the felt or anticlockwise direction. This could explain that fetus rotate commonly to left side within uterus. In live born the coils number should not exceed 4 to 5 coils per/10cm of the cord length, if it exceed that number it may affect fetal growth or decrease fetal weight. Commonly the cord has eccentric insertion. Frequency of marginal cord insertion was significantly increased in premature birth or when studied postnatal. Single umbilical artery is unrelated to low birth weight, one artery is enough to maintain the blood circulation and fetal weight gain, and were two cases showed nervous system abnormalities, spina bifida associated with hydrocephalus. Birth weight can be detected by measuring cord diameter. The correlation between umbilical cord morphology and birth weight need further studies and much longer periods to clarify more specific correlation especially internal structures.
