The low hemoglobin values at third trimester gestation were associated with low birth weight and length in Turkish women. The anemia can be a direct cause of deterioration of in utero fetal growth due to lack of oxygen flow to placental tissue or can be an indirect indicator of maternal nutrition deficit. In both circumstances this study reveals that treatment of anemia is directly correlated with better fetal outcomes.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the correlation between gestational age and fetal birth weight with such a large sample size in Turkey. Therefore, the results of this reference study can be helpful in defining normal and abnormal fetal growth in Turkish newborns.
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