Introduction: Anthropometric measurements provide useful references for the care of
newborns. This would ultimately lead to identifying at risk newborns and help better management.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between second trimester
maternal hemoglobin values and neonatal anthropometric indices.
Methods: A prospective study was performed on 150 pregnant females at 24 to 28 weeks
of gestation, undergoing hemoglobin status test, in Tehran, during years 2013 to 2014. Hemoglobin
concentrations in second trimesters and all anthropometric indices of the newborns
(birth weight, length, and head circumference) were recorded. Data were analyzed
using descriptive statistics, linear regression analysis and One-way Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA). Data were analyzed with SPSS v21 and P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: No correlation was found between neonatal indices and second trimester hemoglobin
concentrations. When the effect of independent factors on neonatal anthropometric
indices was investigated, it was determined that birth week, parity and history of low
birth weight were the factors of most influence (P < 0.05). The infants of females with
hemoglobin higher than 13.6 g/dl on the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy had lower anthropometric
indices, yet this was not significant.
Conclusions: According to our study, there was no significant relationship between mother's
hemoglobin concentration during the second trimester of pregnancy and neonatal anthropometric
indices.