Plasma progesterone in the umbilical vessels at term--an overview

This paper reports the results of umbilical cord vein and artery, and maternal peripheral vein plasma progesterone levels in over 300 term human deliveries, individual aspects of which have previously been reported. An attempt was made to assess the fetal status objectively, and the results confirm that cord progesterone levels are correlated with the mode of delivery, the clinical indications for the mode of delivery and the clinical condition of the fetus after delivery. No relation was found to fetal sex, induction of labour or maternal antenatal complications.