ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, a sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. Fetus depends on mother for its need of vitamin D, thus there is growing concern for its impact on neonates. This study was designed to determine the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D3) levels in maternal blood and in cord blood.Methods: A total 50 term pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at SVS medical college, Telangana and their neonates were included in the study. At term after taking written consent, maternal and cord blood vitamin D3 were measured, and values were correlated. Antenatal and neonatal complications were noted, and correlated with vitamin D3 levels.Results: In this study 80% of pregnant women and 88% of neonates were vitamin D3 deficient. Mean maternal blood vitamin D3 was 17.62±10.01 and cord blood vitamin D3 was 12.84±7.68. Maternal blood vitamin D3 correlated positively with cord blood vitamin D3 (r=0.951, p<0.001). Antenatal and neonatal complications were observed, but statistically significant association with vitamin D3 deficiency could not be established.Conclusions: This study has demonstrated a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy, young, pregnant women despite abundant sunlight leading to deficiency in their neonates. To establish strong association between vitamin D3 deficiency and various antenatal and neonatal complications further studies with large subject groups are required.
ABSTRACT
Background: This study was aimed at observing the outcomes of pregnancies with sonographically detected nuchal cord or cord around the neck at term. Early studies on nuchal cord showed many maternal and neonatal complications. But several recent studies have suggested that maternal and neonatal complications do not increase with nuchal cord at delivery. This ambiguity increases anxiety in treating obstetricians and relatives of pregnant women, thus leading to unnecessary caesarean sections. This study is intended to observe the maternal and neonatal outcomes of 300 pregnant women with sonographically detected nuchal cord at term.Methods: Prospective observational study where 300 term pregnant women with sonographically detected nuchal cord were observed through delivery at Shri Venkata Sai Medical College, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, during October 2016 to April 2018.Results: In this study 80.6% women had normal vaginal delivery, 8.3% had LSCS, 11% had instrumental deliveries. 54% had loose nuchal cord, 46% had tight loop of cord.60% had normal CTG, 8% had variable deceleration, 2% late deceleration. Neonatal morbidity was 9.6% and zero neonatal mortality.Conclusions: The study concluded that the presence of nuchal cord does not adversely affect the mother and the neonate. Presence of nuchal cord per se is not an indication for LSCS. Effect of nuchal cord on neonate is only transient. These women can be allowed for vaginal delivery with routine labour room protocols. Routine sonographycal detection of nuchal cord is not required and if it is reported, it should not dictate obstetric management.