Correlation between neonatal cord blood hemoglobin and hematocrit with mode of delivery

Background: Increased level of hemoglobin at birth is one of the essential iron storage in infants against iron deficiency anemia. Different causes could lead to decreased hemoglobin level at birth. Objective: To evaluate the association between cord blood hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and the mode of delivery (cesarean section against normal vaginal delivery). Methods: This was an analytic cross-sectional study carried out on 100 normal vaginal delivery infants and equal number of babies delivered by cesarean section infants at Tehran Najmieh Hospital during 2005. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were measured using cord blood samples. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using independent t test. Findings: In normal vaginal delivery infants, the mean hemoglobin content of cord blood was 15±1.7 g/dl and the mean hematocrit 46%±4.9%. Similarly, the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of cord blood among cesarean section infants were 14.6±1.9 g/dl and 45.6%±5.7%, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the cord blood hemoglobin and mode of delivery. Conclusion: The levels of cord blood hemoglobin and hematocrit in cesarean section infants are lower than those in normal vaginal delivery infants hence, the former are more likely to be at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia than the recent group.