Summary. Serum iron, serum iron‐binding capacity, serum ferritin and erythrocyte protoporphyrin were determined during uncomplicated pregnancy in 45 healthy women; 22 were given oral iron while the others were given a placebo. When iron was not given, 15 out of 23 women had exhausted iron stores and iron deficiency at term, as judged from low serum ferritin, low serum transferrin saturation and high erythrocyte protoporphyrin values. Only seven of them had a haemoglobin concentration between 10 and 11 g/dl at term but none had values < 10 g/dl. In the iron‐treated group (n=22) none of the women developed iron deficiency. Serum ferritin was the most sensitive and specific test of iron deficiency. A practical procedure to detect iron deficiency and to control iron supplementation in pregnancy is suggested.

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Summary. The concentrations of acute‐phase protein reactants, total protein, albumin and globulin fractions were measured throughout normal pregnancy in 27 women. α1‐Antitrypsin and caeruloplasmin concentrations increased gradually to reach their highest levels in the third trimester. Orosomucoid and haptoglobin showed similar patterns: higher levels in the first and third trimester with a decline around 24 weeks gestation. C‐Reactive protein showed levels similar to those of non‐pregnant healthy individuals (< 5 mg/1) throughout pregnancy. α1,‐, α2 and β‐Globulin concentrations increased from the first trimester towards term. γ‐Globulin concentration changed little during gestation. The data obtained provide reference ranges for serum proteins in healthy pregnancy.

There are approximately 400,000 births plus legal abortions in the five Nordic countries annually. During the 1970s the number of maternal deaths ranged from 14 to 33 per year, the overall mean rate being 7.2 per 100,000 births. The rates declined somewhat from 1972 onwards, but otherwise there was no demonstrable change in frequency with time. Mortality rose steeply with increasing maternal age, with a rate of 28.5 for mothers over 35. The two most frequent causes of death were pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and hemorrhage, comprising 17.0 and 14.2% of the total, respectively. Legal abortion carried less risk of death than did pregnancy continuing to birth. Among the countries, Denmark and Sweden had the lowest average maternal mortality rates. The distribution of causes showed a predominance of abortion and thrombosis in Finland, and of hemorrhage and infection in Norway, but neither singular causes nor age-specific birth distributions can explain inter-country differences.

A presentation is given of what is believed to be the second documented case of myoma in a girl under the age of sixteen. The myoma caused total urinary retention, and was successfully removed by myomectomy.

Although intra-class correlation coefficients showed good reproducibility for endoanal ultrasound measurements, the limits of agreement were less reassuring with sizeable variation in the volume assessment, probably due to uncertainty in landmark identification.

Local injection of hyperosmolar glucose guided by transvaginal ultrasound by one skilled investigator is an effective treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Most women preserve tubal patency after treatment.

IGT, as defined by the World Health Organization, did not result in any adverse outcomes.