The Correlation between Infants’ Birth Weight and Apgar Score and Maternal Hemoglobin Concentration

Background: Various studies have come to contradictory results regarding the relationship between maternal hemoglobin (Hb) level and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the birth outcomes among pregnant women who had normal hemoglobin levels in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, 108 healthy pregnant women with gestational age of 10-14 weeks and Hb≥11g/dl were selected through cluster random sampling and were followed up until delivery. Mothers’ Hb concentration was measured at the end of the first, second, and third trimesters. Then, the relationship between maternal Hb concentration and infants’ birth weight and Apgar score was investigated. Results: The incidence rates of anemia in the second and third trimesters were 12.8% and 27.9%, respectively. Moreover, 16.27% of the newborns had low birth weight and 17.4% had Apgar scores of less than 8. The results revealed a significant relationship between birth weight and maternal Hb level in the second (P=0.02), and the third trimester (P=0.03). Also, the rate of birth of infants with Apgar scores<8 significantly increased among women with Hb13.2g/dl in the second trimester (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the present study’s findings, maternal Hb level is suggested to be controlled during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in addition to the first trimester. In this way, necessary care and treatment measures can be taken based on the women’s hemodynamic status which might reduce the low birth weight and low Apgar score among infants. Key words: Hemoglobin, birth outcomes, pregnancy.