Haemoconcentration risk at the end of pregnancy: effects on neonatal behaviour.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the associations between haemoconcentration at the end of pregnancy (third trimester and delivery) and neonatal behaviour in healthy pregnant women supplemented with moderate doses of Fe.


METHODS
A prospective longitudinal study in which obstetric and clinical history, maternal toxic habits, maternal anxiety and Hb levels were recorded at the third trimester and delivery. Neonatal behaviour was assessed at 48-72 h of age using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale.


METHODS
Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus, Tarragona (Spain).


METHODS
A total of 210 healthy and well-nourished pregnant women and their full-term, normal-weight newborns.


RESULTS
The results showed that, after adjusting for confounders, in the third trimester the risk of haemoconcentration (6·2 % of pregnant women) was related to decreased neonatal state regulation (B=-1·273, P=0·006) and alertness (B=-1·848, P=0·006) scores. In addition, the risk of haemoconcentration at delivery (12·0 % of pregnant women) was also related to decreased neonatal state regulation (B=-0·796, P=0·021) and poor robustness and endurance (B=-0·921, P=0·005) scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the risk of haemoconcentration at the end of pregnancy is related to the neonate's neurodevelopment (and self-regulation capabilities), suggesting that Fe supplementation patterns and maternal Fe status during pregnancy are important factors for neurodevelopment which may be carefully controlled.
1Nutrition and Public Health Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus,Spain.
Nuria
N
Aranda
2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology,Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Ctra. Valls s/n, 43007 Tarragona,Spain.
Carmen
C
Hernández-Martínez
1Nutrition and Public Health Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus,Spain.
Victoria
V
Arija
1Nutrition and Public Health Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus,Spain.
Blanca
B
Ribot
2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology,Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Ctra. Valls s/n, 43007 Tarragona,Spain.
Josefa
J
Canals
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001724:Birth Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary
Haemoconcentration risk; Iron status; Neonatal behaviour; Pregnancy