Abstract: Introduction: Anaemia is the commonest medical disorder in pregnancy affecting 30-50% of pregnant. Of these iron deficiency is responsible for more than 90% of cases. Maternal anaemia has several deleterious effects on the health of mother and fetus. The cord blood shows a linear relationship with maternal hemoglobin and mothers who have anaemia are more likely to deliver anaemic babies. Cause of anaemia in developing countries is multifactorial. Most common causes of anaemia in developing countries are nutritional, hookworm infestations, repeated pregnancy and haemorrhage.
Material and Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Physiology and Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Integral Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Lucknow. The study included 100 pregnant mothers (as per calculated sample size). After delivery of the baby, blood sample was collected in an EDTA bottle from the umbilical cord at the time of birth of the baby and blood was sent for hemoglobin analysis. Blood was analyzed using fully automated haematoanalyzer named Beckman Coulter. Written informed consent was taken from parents.
Objective: To study the effect of maternal anaemia on cord blood haemoglobin.
Result: There is a linear relationship between maternal and cord haemoglobin.