Abstract 1. 1. During the 12 month period from July 1, 1948, to June 30, 1949, there were 1,525 deliveries at the Brooklyn Womens Hospital. Of these, 269 presented the complication of the short umbilical cord, an incidence of 17.6 per cent. 2. 2. There was no significant increase in the duration of the first or second stage of labor. 3. 3. There was no difference in the types of deliveries in the study group as compared to the control group, i.e., no added operative interference was required. 4. 4. The type of anesthesia used played no part in the outcome of the cases. A suggestion regarding the use of continuous caudal and low spinal analgesia is made. 5. 5. The incidence of fetal distress and the need for resuscitation of the newborn are increased in the “short cord” group of cases. 6. 6. Shortening of the umbilical cord does not seem to be a major contributing cause of stillbirth.