title: Effects of nuchal cord on birthweight and immediate neonatal outcomes.
abstract: Our objective was to ascertain if nuchal cord is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Using a retrospective database of term neonates, outcomes were compared among infants with 0, 1, and 2 or more loops of cord encircling the neck. Of 4426 neonates, 3651 served as controls, 691 had one loop, and 84 had two or more loops. There were no significant differences in the mean birthweight, the frequency of nonreassuring fetal heart rate patterns, operative vaginal deliveries, or 5-minute Apgar scores of < 7. The cesarean delivery rate was significantly different among the three groups and was the highest among the group of women whose fetus had no nuchal cord ( p < 0.01). A nuchal cord at term is not associated with untoward pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mastrobattista
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hollier
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ramin
authors.forename: Mary-Clare
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gilstrap
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009333:Neck; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014470:Umbilical Cord