Diameter of Umbilical Cord Increases with Maternal Age and Increasing Parity

Abstract Umbilical cord is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. Umbilical cord acts as a physiological life line between fetus and placenta. It is vital to the development, well-being, and survival of the fetus. Although one of the most vulnerable and vital components of the fetal anatomy, the umbilical cord is one of the least studied fetal structures. The objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to observe the factors influencing the diameter of umbilical cords of full term babies. One hundred umbilical cords of full term babies delivered with normal vaginal delivery or caesarean section of singleton pregnancy were included in this study which was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, in collaboration with the Department of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet from July 2010 to June 2011. In this study the diameter of the umbilical cord ranged from 0.9 to 2.1 cm with the mean 1.5 (SD plus/minus 0.4) Kg. It is ranged from 0.9 to 2.0 cm with the mean 1.4 (SD plus/minus 0.3) cm in the maternal age group of up to 20 years; 1.0 to 2.0 cm with the mean 1.6 ( SD pm0,4) cm in the maternal age group of 21 to 30 years; and 1.0 to 2.0 cm with the mean 1.6 (SD plus/minus 0.4) the maternal age group of 21 to 30 years. There was a statistically significant difference diameter of the umbilical cord and increasing maternal age (p < 0.05). The diameter of the umbilical cord ranged from 0.9 to 2.0 cm with the mean 1.4 (SD plus/minus 0.4) cm in primipara mother and 1.3 to 2.1 cm with the mean 1.8 (SD plus/minus 0.2) cm in the multipara mother. The increasing diameter of umbilical cord with increasing maternal parity was statistically significant (p < 01) In male baby, the diameter of the umbilical cord ranged from 1.0 to 2.1cm with the mean 1.6 (SD 0.4) cm and 0.9 to 2.1 cm with the mean 1.5 (SD 0.4) cm in the female baby. Difference between the diameter of umbilical cord of male baby and female baby was statistically not significant (p > 0.05). Key words: Umbilical cord, Parity, Maternal age.