The Iron Status of Parturient Mothers and their New Born Babies

Abstract

To evaluate the iron status of ;\-omen in labour. To evaluate the iron stafus in :he neonates of these subjects. To study the :orreiation between the iron status of these ='rbjects and in their new bom babies. Design: Cross sectional cohort study Setting: University Obstetric Unit, Galle Patients and Methods: The serum ferritin(SF) -,: haemoglobin(Flb) -{ levels were estimated in eregnant women in stage II of labour, and in ::i,e cord venous blood obtained at delivery. R.esults: Of the women2g(39%) had FIb<11gldL z:'C 22(30%) had SF<12nglmL. The meanlord ;'erous Hb of t3.8g/dL (SD 2.7) was -o:gnificantly higher (p<0.001) than the mean :.aternal Hb of 11.1gldL(SD 2.2). The mean ::rd SF of 85.8ng/ml (SD 41.9) too was :::nificantly higher (p<0.001) than the mean :.aternal SF of 22.2nglml(SD 16.1). Although ::.ere was no correlation between the matemal ::.C cord venous Hb, the cord venous SF was :,:sitively correlated to the matemal SF (p<0.01). Cnnclusion: Iron status was unsatisfactory in ,-r--r group of parturient women. A positive ::::eiation was seen between the iron stores of ::e nother and the baby. However the baby,s :-l: rorrelated poorly with the mother,s Hb 'l:a:--