The relation between maternal and cord serum iron levels and its effect on fetal growth in iron deficient mothers without malarial infection.

In this relatively iton deficient population both multiparous and primiparous pregnant women had similar serum iron levels. The mothers' levels had a linear correlation with the cord serum levels, but the lowest mean cord levels were above 100 mug./dl. maternal and cord blood haemoglobin levels,birthweights and placental weights showed no constant relation to the serum iron levels, and even in anaemic mothers the fetus was relatively non-asaemic with a haemoglobin level aroun 13 g./dl. In non-anaemic mothers the cord blood haemogloin rose rapidly and progressively.