EFFECT OF MATERNAL ANAEMIA ON THE PLACENTA AND THE NEWBORN INFANT

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Abstract
Foetal birthweight, placental morphometry and maternal, cord blood and placental haemoglobin and iron levels were studied in 69 anaemic mothers (haemoglobin <110 g/1) and 16 mothers without anaemia (haemoglobin ≥110 g/1). The birthweight, placental weight and number of placental cotyledons were significantly reduced in the severely anaemic mothers (haemoglobin ≤60 g/1) and had direct relationships with the maternal haemoglobin levels. However, placental volume and surface area showed no constant relation to maternal haemoglobin. The haemoglobin and iron levels in the cord blood and placental tissue were found to have linear correlations with the maternal haemoglobin levels. The low levels of placental and cord serum iron in the severely anaemic mothers suggest that iron supply to the placenta and the foetus is affected in maternal anaemia and the foetus takes iron in direct proportion to the levels available in the mother.

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