Cord blood erythropoietin and cord blood nucleated red blood cells for prediction of adverse neonatal outcome associated with maternal obesity in term pregnancy: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and we measure cord blood erythropoietin and NRBC count as indices of hypoxia and predictors of neonatal outcome.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was done in Minia University Hospital, carried out from May 2015 to April 2016. Two hundred and seventy full-term neonates born to mothers of various body mass indices were included. Excluded were neonates with major factors known to be associated with a potential increase in fetal erythropoiesis. Pre-pregnancy maternal BMI was calculated from maternally reported weight and height. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells were measured.

RESULTS

There is a significant increase of various adverse pregnancy outcomes as cesarean section. Postpartum hemorrhage and macrosomia with the increase of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Significant positive correlations between cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells with maternal BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells can predict the poor neonatal outcome.