title: The relationship between third trimester maternal hemoglobin and birth weight/length; results from the tertiary center in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between third trimester maternal hemoglobin values and fetal birth weight/length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study was conducted on 28600 Turkish pregnant women who delivered between January 2010 and December 2011. Hemoglobin values at third trimester, all birth weights/lengths of newborns were retrospectively analyzed. Maternal third trimester hemoglobin values and birth weights/lengths were compared and correlated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The high hemoglobin concentrations at third trimester were associated with high birth weight (odds ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.11; p=0.00) and significant positive correlation was determined between maternal third trimester hemoglobin and birth weights/lengths (p=0.00). Low hemoglobin was associated with low length of newborns (p=0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low hemoglobin values at third trimester gestation were associated with low birth weight and length in Turkish women. The anemia can be a direct cause of deterioration of in utero fetal growth due to lack of oxygen flow to placental tissue or can be an indirect indicator of maternal nutrition deficit. In both circumstances this study reveals that treatment of anemia is directly correlated with better fetal outcomes.
authors: Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
authors: Yunus
authors: Y
authors: Yildiz
authors: Emre
authors: E
authors: Özgü
authors: Serdar Bekir
authors: SB
authors: Unlu
authors: Burcin
authors: B
authors: Salman
authors: Elif Gul Yapar
authors: EG
authors: Eyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins