ABSTRACT
A variable hematological value without clinical sign of sepsis or hematological disorder is often observed in newborns. The purpose of this study was to investigate hematological measurements in umbilical cord vein of newborns delivered spontaneously or by cesarean section. We studied 150 pregnant women who delivered term normal infants. The patients were divided into two groups according to the route of delivery: vaginal [n=75] and cesarean section [n=75]. Immediately after delivery, umbilical cord blood samples were collected. Any possible relationship between mode of delivery, gestational age, gravidity, parity, sex, weight of the new born infant, and the duration of different phase of labor with the hematological parameters was investigated. We observed a significant increase in all hematologic parameters including hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and WBC, platelet and RBC counts in newborns delivered spontaneously [p<0.001]. The lymphocyte counts were similar in two groups. Male infants and newborns with higher gestational age showed a higher hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Increased parity and gravidity correlated with a decrease in all hematological values of umbilical vein blood except of lymphocyte count [p<0.001]. Prolonged duration of first and second stage was associated with higher mean leukocyte, neutrophil, platelet, hemoglobin and hematocrit values. The mode of delivery, gestational age, parity, gravidity, sex and weight of newborn, and the duration of first and second stage of labor can influence on hematological parameters of umbilical cord blood