Abstract
UMBILICAL CORD LENGTH IN SINGLETON GESTATIONS AT MISURATA HOSPITAL, LIBYA

The umbilical cord is the lifeline of the fetus, which varies in length and ranged from no cord (achordia) to very long cord of up to three meters. It is assumed that the length of an umbilical cord is determined by environmental as well as genetic factors. A cross sectional study was conducted at Misurata Central Hospital during the month of February 2012 to investigate the umbilical cord length with the fetal parameters and the labour outcomes. Parturient women who gave singleton births were enrolled in the study. Information on socio-demographics, obstetrics and medical history was gathered using a structured questionnaire. The umbilical cord length, placental and newborns weight were recorded.Out of 131 women who were enrolled in the study, 40 (30.5%) were primiparae. The delivery was vaginal in 117 (89.3%), instrumental in one (0.7%) and it was cesarean in 13 (9.9%) women. Seventy (53.4%) of the newborns were males. The mean (SD) of the length of the umbilical cord and the birth weight of the infants 59.2 (16.2) cm and 3.508 g, respectively. In a linear regression, there was a significant association between parity, birth weight and cord length. However age, occupation, history of miscarriage, gestational age, pregnancy and placental weight were not associated with the cord length. There was no significant difference in the cord length and labour and characteristics. There was no significant association between umbilical cord length and intrapartum complications. However, increased length of the umbilical cord, high parity and increased birth weight were significantly associated.