Teenage pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher risk of PIH, PET, eclampsia, premature onset of labor, fetal deaths and premature delivery. Increased neonatal morbidity and mortality were also seen in babies delivered to teenage mothers. Younger teenager group (17 years) was most vulnerable to adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

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Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were measured at birth, 6 hours, 24 hours, and on 5th day of life in 35 neonates with birth asphyxia (one-minute Apgar score of 6 or less), and in 37 neonates without asphyxia (one-minute Apgar score of 7 or more). Infants were divided into three groups: FT-AGA (n = 30, asphyxia = 15), FT-IUGR (n = 20, asphyxia = 10) and PT-AGA (n = 22, asphyxia = 10). Asphyxiated infants--FT-AGA as well as FT-IUGR--had significantly lower serum calcium levels than control infants during each of the time period studied. In PT-AGA infants with asphyxia, the serum calcium was significantly low only on 5th day of life. Lack of calcium intake, and hyperphosphatemia were identified as possible risk factors for low serum calcium in asphyxiated infants. No change in serum calcium levels was found in bicarbonate-treated asphyxiated infants in comparison to those who did not receive sodium bicarbonate. In view of the high incidence of low serum calcium in asphyxiated infants, serial monitoring of serum calcium levels is recommended in these infants.

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SummaryThe present study comprises of 208 term, 159 preterm and 18 post-term neonates born to mothers with no history of drug intake or any disease likely to effect coagulation of the newborn. PT, TT and KCCT were relatively prolonged and plasma fibrinogen reduced to varying degree in newborns (as compared to adults). There was further prolongation of TT and reduction in plasma fibrinogen levels amongst preterm newborns as compared to term babies; TT was more prolonged amongst post-term babies also. PT was significantly more prolonged till 30 weeks of gestation, after which a near plateau was formed. KCCT showed significant improvement after 33 weeks and a further trend to normalisation after 38 weeks of gestation. Serum FDP values showed too much of variation for any meaningful statistical analysis but generally FDPs were higher in preterm babies. Intrauterine growth rate had no significant effect on these parameters amongst preterms -similar values for SGA (small for gestational age), AGA (appropriate for gestational age) and LGA (large for gestational age). On the other hand, amongst term babies SGA neonates had significantly prolonged PT and low plasma fibrinogen as compared to AGA; LGA babies also showed more prolongation of TT as compared to AGA.