Electronic poster abstractsupon labour ward admission. The Wharton's jelly area (WJA) was calculated as the difference between the total umbilical cord area (UCA) and the vascular area. The WJA/birthweight and the UCA/birthweight ratio were compared between women who underwent an OI (i.e. Caesarean section, operative vaginal deliveries or intrapartum resuscitation) for suspected fetal compromise (group OI) and those where this was not necessary (group no OI). The correlation between the total deceleration area during labour and the WJA/birthweight and the UCA/ birthweight ratio was also assessed. Results: Overall, 185 women were included. Table 1 illustrates the maternal and labour characteristics between the two groups. The UCA/birthweight ratio did not differ between the two groups (0.6 ± 0.1 versus 0.5 ± 0.2 cm 2 /mg p = 0.07) as well as the WJA/ birthweight (0.4 ± 0.1 cm 2 /mg versus 0.3 ± 0.1; p = 0.06). Also, no correlation was found between the total deceleration area in labour and both the WJA/birthweight and the UCA/birthweight ratio. Conclusions: A lower thickness of the umbilical cord does not seem to represent a risk factor for suspected fetal compromise during active labour.

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