Effect of maternal age on cord blood nutrients and birth weight at term

Adequate nutrition has been reported to increase the frame size and birth weight of neonates at term. These anthropometric measures have been used to predict foetal growth and well-being. It has been observed that the amounts of maternal serum and cord blood glucose influence these anthropometric parameters. Therefore, this study reports the relationship between maternal age and some biochemical indices of foetal nutrition (maternal serum and cord blood glucose, and birth weight at term). Pregnant subjects between 15 and 45 years, and who were about to be delivered were selected from the Labour room, Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. Cases of complications and disease conditions were excluded. Weight and age-matched, non-pregnant women in apparent good health were randomly recruited as control subjects. The results show that younger (15-19years)