Maternal and fetal plasma cortisol levels in abnormal labour

ABSTRACT

Comparing maternal and foetal plasma cortisol levels in four groups spontaneous vaginal delivery, elective caesarean section, emergency caesarean section and instrumental delivery Maternal and foetal plasma cortisol are higher in spontaneous vaginal delivery than in elective caesarean section which are higher than emergency C.S. Although the results of our study provide evidence that the onset of spontaneous labour in the human is associated with high levels of cortisol, we cannot assume that these high levels are perquisite for parturition. The response of the foetus to the stress of labour, the metabolic clearance rate of cortisol, binding to plasma proteins and conjugation to sulfate and glucuronides must be taken into consideration. There is no significant difference in maternal and foetal plasma cortisol in instrumental delivery compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery