Hematological Parameters in Pregnant Women with Special Reference to Iron

Abstract

Several biological factors, particularly haematological, are physiologically altered during normal pregnancy. Biologists and doctors who are aware of these changes in the maternal body can screen for potential abnormalities. The aim of this research is to find healthy pregnant women's reference values. This was a cross-sectional research of pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic at Sree Balaji Medical College, with anaemic and non-anemic pregnant women. Pregnant women were categorized into three groups -Group I - First Trimester (50 cases); Group II - Second Trimester (50 cases) and Group III - Third Trimester (72 cases) while non­ pregnant women formed the fourth group (30 cases). A statistically significant difference between the pregnant women and control group was noted (p < 0.05) for all the hematological parameters: red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, leukocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets and mean platelet volume. The present study provides additional baseline data for basic hematological parameters in healthy pregnant women and concluded that pregnancy in women has the tendency to alter some hematological indices.