Maternal Anaemia and Fetal Well-Being

Abstract

Summary: Although, the paediatrician's practice does cent fall in maternal haematocrit if anaemia is not normally start until after the birth of the uncorrected. How much these fetal complications infant, events during the preceding nine months are the result of anaemia per se is not easy to of the child's life are of great interest and impor- assess, because the anaemia is often of multiple tance to both the obstetrician and the paediatri- aetiology and is associated with other factors. cian. One of the most frequent complications of There are therefore, three questions which pregnancy is maternal anaemia, and in the require answers: tropics this anaemia may be so severe as to imperil the life of the mother and infant.