CORRELATION BETWEEN UMBILICAL CORD LENGTH, BIRTH WEIGHT AND LENGTH OF SINGLETON DELIVERIES AT TERM IN A NIGERIAN POPULATION

Background: The umbilical cord and placental have been considered to significantly contribute to the perinatal outcome. However, in our environment attempt at exploring its use as been limited due to paucity of information on the value of the placenta and umbilical cord and the prevailing sociocultural believes.
Objectives: This study aims to identify the relationship between the umbilical cord length, newborn length and weight
Methods: The study population consisted of three hundred and five pregnant women who consented to participate in the study and had live singleton fetuses at term.
Results: The average birth weight was 3.23 ± 0.50 kilograms and the average baby’s length was 49.75 ± 2.40 centimeters. The average umbilical cord length was 51.50 ± SD 6.67 centimetres. There was a positive correlation between umbilical cord length and the length of the baby.( r = 0.130, p = 0.024). A positive relationship was observed between the umbilical cord length and the weight of the baby at birth(r=0.145,p=0.011); likewise a positive statistical relationship was found between the birth weight and the birth length of the babies (r=0.498, p<0.001).
Conclusion: The umbilical cord length contributes significantly to the determination of the newborn weight and length. Health education on the relevance of proper examination of the placenta and umbilical cord by the health care givers should be instituted.