Abstract

Background: Maternal hemoglobin during pregnancy is an important predictor of neonatal outcomes such as infant birth weight. The weight of the newborn is considered a crucial factor for the morbidity and mortality of newborns. The mother's hemoglobin fluctuates significantly during pregnancy. Objective: The aim of the the study was to assess the relationship between the mother's hemoglobin concentration during pregnancy and the birth weight of the newborn. Methods: Design-retrospective analysis of 672 pregnancies with recorded maternal hemoglobin concentration and newborn birth weight recorded in the pregnancy database in the delivery department of the Velika Kladuša Health Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2009 to 2010. Results and Discussion: The maximum mean birth weight was achieved with a hemoglobin concentration of 85-95 g/l. If the optimal drop in hemoglobin concentration does not occur during pregnancy, this condition is associated with an increased risk of giving birth to children with a lower birth weight for gestational age. Conclusion: The optimal drop in hemoglobin concentration during pregnancy is associated with the birth weight of the newborn. Hemoglobin deficiency below 105 g/l indicates an increased risk of low birth weight of the newborn.

Key words: Concentration of maternal hemoglobin, birth weight of the newborn