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PLASMA CORTISOL (11‐HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROID) DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
Author(s) -
Adadevoh B. Kwaku,
Akinla Oladele
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1971.tb01634.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , endocrinology , medicine , hydrocortisone , lactation , cord blood , post partum , biology , genetics
Summary Plasma cortisol (11‐hydroxycorticosteroid) was studied during and after pregnancy in Nigerian women. A rise was found throughout pregnancy which was accompanied by increased binding but the absolute levels were lower than those reported by others. During labour there was a further rise in plasma cortisol which was no longer detectable on the first day after delivery. Six weeks post partum, cortisol levels rose again and this rise was attributed to the stress of lactation. In contrast to previous reports the ratio between maternal and cord blood cortisol levels was found to be narrow.