The relation between cord serum sodium levels in newborn infants and maternal intravenous therapy during labour.

A retrospective study was made of the relation between the cord serum sodium levels and the intravenous administration to the mother of 5 per cent dextrose and oxytocin. Of the 203 mothers studied, 106 received intravenous fluid before delivery. The mean sodium levels of babies of mothers who had intravenous fluid (133 +/- 4.2 (SD) mkmol/l) was significantly lower than for babies of mothers who had not (138 +/- 4.3 (SD) mmol/l).