North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Velamentous insertion typically occurs in approximately 1% of pregnancies. This condition refers to a situation where the fetal membranes (the chorion and amnion) insert into the placenta at a distance from the placental margin and the umbilical cord vessels course through the membranes rather than being protected by the placenta. The frequency of velamentous insertion is relatively rare, which is why the figure of about 1% is representative in clinical practice. Knowledge of this statistic is important for midwives and healthcare providers, as it can influence management decisions during pregnancy and delivery. Understanding this condition's prevalence allows for better risk assessment and the anticipation of any potential complications that could arise from the unusual placement of the umbilical vessels, such as vessel rupture during labor.