Effect of maternal obesity and passive smoking on neonatal nucleated red blood cells

Abstract

Passive cigarette smoking and obesity during pregnancy are risk factors for adverse outcome in infant. Elevated umbilical cord neonatal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) have been suggested as a marker of intrauterine foetal hypoxia. Aim to demonstrate whether maternal risk factors during pregnancy are capable of elevating circulating NRBCs measured at birth. We compared the count of NRBCs in the cord blood in three groups. Group I neonates born to obese mothers, group I) neonates born to mothers exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and control group III. The results reveal that maternal body mass index and infant birth weight were significantly higher in group I (p = < 0.001 and 0.037, respectively). The absolute NRBC count was higher in groups I and II compared to control group (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the neonates of obese mothers and passive maternal smoking have increased NRBCs at birth.