The umbilical cord: a study of 1,000 consecutive deliveries.

Abstract

Cord length varied between 15 cm and 130 cm (mean, 51.5 cm). No relationship found to parity, maternal age, or sex of baby. Increase in cord length with birthweight and gestational age, up to term. Correlation between umbilical length and placental weight, with a variation according to lie of the fetus: longest in cord encirclement and unstable lie, shortest in breech presentation, transverse lie, and twin birth.