title: Relationship between gross placental characteristics and perinatal outcome of low-risk singleton deliveries.
abstract: Gross examination of the placenta may provide useful insight into the aetiology of newborn and maternal complications. A review of literature revealed only a few epidemiological studies that determined the relationships between placental abnormalities, gestational age and occurrence of adverse outcome in babies of healthy pregnant women in our region.
  
  
  
  A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between 1 st February and August 2013. Pregnant women in labour at ≥28 weeks' gestational age with singleton pregnancies were recruited. Gross examination of the placenta and umbilical cord after delivery were performed.
  
  
  
  Four hundred and twenty-eight singleton deliveries were studied. The average placental weight was 580.8 ± 130.6 g (range = 125-1500 g). The mean values of the umbilical cord length and width were 52.7 ± 10.5 cm and 1.96 ± 1.11 cm, respectively. Placental abnormalities occurred in 1.2%. The umbilical cord was centrally inserted in 290 (67.8%), marginally in 31% of cases. There was significant but weak positive correlation between the placental weight, birth weight and gestational age at 40 weeks (P ≤ 0.001, r = 0.356). Placental weight was directly related to birth weight (P < 0.0001, r = 0.244) and greater in babies with congenital abnormalities (P = 0.002).
  
  
  
  There was an association between placental parameters and foetal outcome at birth. Placental weight was positively correlated with birth weight, gestational age and occurrence of congenital abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kikelomo Temilola
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Adesina
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowen University, Iwo and Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, Oyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olumuyiwa O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ogunlaja
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abiodun P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Aboyeji
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Halimat J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Akande
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abiodun S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Adeniran
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebunmi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olarinoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adegboyega A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fawole
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010920:Placenta; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies