Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is commonly associated with which condition?

Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord occurs when the cord attaches to the fetal membranes rather than the placenta itself, placing the vessels at risk of rupture as they traverse the membranes. This condition is particularly associated with multiple gestations due to the increased likelihood of abnormal placentation.

In cases of multiple gestations, the presence of two or more fetuses can lead to altered placental structure and positioning, which may enhance the risk of abnormal cord insertion patterns, such as velamentous insertion. This is because the placenta may be divided or compacted in ways that do not occur in singleton pregnancies.

While options like placenta previa and abruptio placentae also present significant complications in pregnancy, they are not directly linked to velamentous insertion of the cord in the same way that multiple gestations are. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta covers the cervix, and abruptio placentae involves the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall; neither condition is primarily characterized by the abnormal attachment of umbilical vessels as seen with velamentous insertion.

Understanding the association between velamentous insertion and conditions such as multiple gestations highlights the importance of careful monitoring and management in pregnancies with more than one fetus, particularly due to the