Variation of Diameter of Umbilical Cord in Different Gestational Age Groups of Healthy Pregnant Mother of Bangladesh
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Abstract
Context: The umbilical cord is the lifeline of the fetus, “The baby’s life hangs by a cord”, as said by Ian Donald. The umbilical cord is an elongated cord like structure enveloped by the glistening amniotic membrane. At full term, it is about 40 cm in length with a usual variation of 30–100 cm. Its diameter is of average 1.5 cm with variation of 1–2.5 cm. Its thickness is not uniform but presents nodes or swelling at places. The umbilical cord is considered both the physical and emotional attachment between mother and fetus. In this article, we investigate the variation of diameter of umbilical cord in different gestational age groups of healthy pregnant mother.
Objective: To identify variations in the diameter of umbilical cord in relation to gestational age.
Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive type of study.
Place & period of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, from January to December 2018.
Materials and method: For the study, 80 discarded placentae with umbilical cord were collected at random from deliveries (both vaginal and caesarian) conducted at Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh. The study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Mymensingh Medical College. The collected samples were divided into three gestational age groups. They were Group A (28 to 36 weeks), Group B (37 to 40 weeks) and Group C (above 40 weeks) and examined morphologically by fine dissection method. The Diameter of the umbilical cord was measured with a slide calipers at 5 cm away from the attachment to the placenta. At first the apparently maximum diameter was measured on the external surface of the cord and then another diameter was taken at right angle to the first measurement. Finally the mean of the diameters was calculated and expressed in cm.
Results: The mean (± SD) diameter was 1.12±0.37 cm in group A, 1.62±0.45 cm in group B and 1.99±0.53 cm in group C. The mean diameter of the umbilical cord was maximum in group C and was minimum in group A. It was also observed that the mean diameter of the umbilical cord increased with gestational age. The mean difference of the diameter between groups A and B, and A and C was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001) but difference between B and C was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study showed that the diameter of umbilical cord was variable, however, maximum number of cases had normal cord diameter. It was observed that the mean length of umbilical cord gradually increased with increase of gestational age.