Fetal steroid levels at delivery

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate cortisol levels in the circulation of neonates following spontaneous onset of labor. There was no significant difference of values between primagravidas and multigravidas, male and female babies, or normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. There was no significant change in mean cord plasma cortisol values with advancing gestational age, after the thirty-third week. It is conceivable that spontaneous labor in humans may be preceded by a release of cortisol into the fetal circulation and when a critical "parturient" level is reached labor becomes established (AU)