Umbilical‐cord plasma progesterone in term infants delivered by caesarean section

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Abstract
Plasma progesterone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay in blood samples from 67 patients delivered by lower-segment cesarean section (LSCS). Blood samples were taken from umbilical cord artery and vein and from a peripheral maternal vein. Cord venous progesterone levels were higher (.apprx. 400 ng/ml) in those patients where the fetus was clinically in jeopardy and this was the principal indication for section. Patients in whom the fetus was not in jeopardy had lower cord venous progesterone concentrations (.apprx.300 ng/ml) regardless of if they were in labor. Maternal levels of progesterone were similar in all patients. The advantage to the fetus of these varying progesterone concentrations is unclear apparently, the fetus exercises control over placental progesterone production during parturition.