Sonographic Correlation of Gestational Age with Umbilical Cord Diameter in Second and Third Trimester

Background: Commonly fetal parameter for gestational age (GA) assessment have pitfall mostly in progressive pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by fetal structure abnormality. Objective: Correlating of gestational age in the second and third trimesters with umbilical cord diameter. Methods: A cross-sectional sonographic study of 370 pregnant women with gestational age from 14 weeks to 40 weeks was done in Government Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kahn a nau Lahore, Ferozpur Road, Lahore. The gestational age was first estimated using Naegele's GA estimation formula based on the starting date of the last menstrual period of each subject. Fetal parameters like biparietal diameter, femur length, circumference of the head and abdominal circumference have been used to estimate gestational age. The umbilical cord diameter has been measured to find a correlation between gestation age and umbilical cord diameter. Results: The fetal parameters and umbilical cord diameter increase in the fetus as the gestational age increases. There seems to be a linear relationship and significant statistical correlation (p<0.05) in between umbilical cord diameter and the gestational age estimation. The umbilical cord diameter appeared to increase by the rate of 1mm/week between 14TH to 40TH weeks of the gestational period. Conclusions: The umbilical cord diameter has a strong linear relationship with commonly used parameters for the assessment of fetal gestational age and is able to use as a reliable method to evaluate fetal growth as well as prediction of gestational age.