European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Despite careful antenatal surveillance involving scrupulous examination, an issue of
considerable disappointment is that a majority of low-birth-weight infants are not diagnosed until
delivery. Low birth weight infants are susceptible to hypoxia and fetal distress, long-term handicap, and
fetal death.
Objectives: The present study will be undertaken in our institution to study the correlation of placental
thickness, measured at the level of the umbilical cord insertion, with the ultrasonographic gestational age
in normal women and fetal weight and outcome.
Methods: Present study was a single centric, observational, cohort, follow up, hospital-based study in
which 100 pregnant women who will come for ultrasound in third trimester during the study period was
recruited in the study. The relationship between placental thickness with fetal parameters, birth weight
and fetal outcome at delivery was investigated in this study. Correlation between placental thickness with
the fetal parameters, average gestational age, gestation at delivery, neonatal birth weight & APGAR
score, and placental weight was investigated during this study.
Results: Significant positive correction of placenta thickness was found with the gestation age, estimated
and actual fetal birth weight, and placenta weight. APGAR score showed negative correlation with the
placenta thickness. Positive correlation of placenta thickness was also found with the Biparietal diameter
(BPD), Head Circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and Femur length (FL).
Conclusion: Ultrasonography serves a significant role in estimating foetal weight, which is a crucial
component of prenatal care. Because of its linear association, placental thickness evaluated at the level
of umbilical cord insertion can be utilised as a reliable sonographic indication in the evaluation of. As a
result, it can be utilised as a secondary sonographic method for determining foetal weight.