The relationship between umbilical cord measurements and newborn outcomes

Objective This study investigated the relationship between umbilical vein diameter and cord length and fetal outcome in low-risk pregnancies (fetuses appropriate for gestational age [AGA]). Methods A prospective cohort study of 39 singleton pregnant women aged 19–44 years at between 38+0 and 41+6 weeks of gestation was conducted. Case demographics, umbilical vein diameter measured by prenatal ultrasound, postnatal birth weight, gender, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, blood gas analysis, and umbilical cord length were recorded. Fetuses with a fetal weight in the 10–90th percentile according to week of gestation were accepted as AGA. Results The mean age of the pregnant women was 27.5±5.3 years. 33% (13/39) of the pregnant women were nulliparous. There was no statistically significant correlation between umbilical vein diameter and other variables in correlation analysis (p>0.050). Umbilical cord length and umbilical vein lactate level were found to have a statistically negative and significant correlation (r=-0.418; p=0.015); however, no other pregnancy outcomes were found to have a significant correlation. There was no statistically significant difference between the median values of umbilical vein diameter and cord length by gender (p=0.076 and 0.181, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, this study found no relationship between umbilical vein diameter and cord length and fetal weight and pregnancy outcome in low-risk 38.0–41.6-week pregnancies (AGA fetuses). However, the obtained results still need to be confirmed by larger series.