title: Positive correlation between the quantity of Wharton's jelly in the umbilical cord and birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the possible protective effects of Wharton's jelly (WJ) in umbilical cord and fetal growth by investigating the relationship between the amount of WJ and fetal birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 299 women who delivered after an uneventful pregnancy. After separation of the placenta, a 5cm long section of umbilical cord was removed by scalpel. The weight of the cord section; the weight, volume, and density of its WJ; and the weight of the newborn and placenta were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant positive correlation was found between WJ quantity, birth weight (p=0.002), and placental weight (p=0.003), whereas a significant negative correlation was observed for WJ density, fetal growth (p=0.035), and placental growth (p=0.002). WJ density was 1.63 ± 0.27g/mL. No significant correlation was found between the amount of WJ and weight gained during pregnancy (p=0.274) or maternal age (p=0.220).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the amount of WJ increases, fetal weight increases. Accordingly, the amount of WJ might be a factor that influences fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: Delivery Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Avsar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Filiz
authors.forename: Bedir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rahime
authors.forename: H Levent
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: Aktepe Keskin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Esra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult