Haemoglobin concentration in pregnancy: Relationships with maternal age and birth weight

Summary

A RETROSPECTIVE study was carried out involving 116 non-smoking primigravid women attending St. James Hospital maternity clinic to determine if any relationships existed between maternal haemoglobin levels and (1) maternal age, (2) birth weight. Initial haemoglobin levels were recorded on first reporting to the clinic and partially correlated with maternal age and birth weight, while controlling for body mass index, weight gain in pregnancy, maternal weight and number of weeks pregnant when first reporting to the clinic. Initial haemoglobin levels were positively correlated with age, i.e. haemoglobin concentration increased as age increased but no significant correlation was found when age was partially correlated with final haemoglobin levels. There was no significant correlation between birth weight and either of the haemoglobin levels. It is concluded that routine haematinic prescription may be of importance in maintaining haematological health in younger mothers.