Estimation of Fetal Age in Relation to Parity by Sonographic Assesment of Umbilical Cord Cross Section Area

ABSTRACT

The cross sectional study was to determine the curve for umbilical cord cross section area with respect to fetal age in primi and multi gravida separately using sonography. Methods: 100 uneventful pregnancies of second and third trimester were studied. SPSS, v17, IBM, Chicago, were used for statistical analysis and polynomial regression equations were calculated. Results: The regression equation of umbilical cord cross section area to Gestational Age y = -3.143 + 0.286 x – 0.004 x2 ,(R2 0.512, p value <0.001) in primigravida . For multigravida cord cross section area to Gestational Age )y= -1.992 + 0.192 x – 0.002 x2 , (R2 0.563, p value <0.001), where x is fetal age in weeks, y is cord cross section area in cm2 . Conclusion: The cord cross section area increased significantly with fetal age upto 32 weeks, thereafter a plateau was seen in primigravida. No plateau was observed in multigravida.