The haematological parameters of normal pregnant women and cord blood of their newborns in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Context: Haematological parameters are frequently used to determine the health status of an individual, and their values are varied among different populations. Hence, there is a need for a local data repository to serve as a reference source for appropriate adoption of therapeutic interventions. Aims: To determine the haematological parameters of normal pregnant women at term and cord blood of their newborns. Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty normal pregnant women and their newborns were enrolled in this study. Bio-demographic and clinical data were extracted from the client folder. In addition, 4 mL of blood was obtained from pregnant women and from the cord of their newborns. Full blood count was obtained using Swelab automatic analyser, whereas reticulocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined manually. Results: The mean haematological parameters of pregnant women and their newborns respectively were as follows: haemoglobin − 11.35 ± 1.28 g/dL and 16.67 ± 1.11 g/dL; mean cell volume − 80.43 ± 7.44 fL and 109.09 ± 3.49 fL; white blood cell count (WBC) − 8.52 ± 2.06 × 109/L and 12.11 ± 1.80 × 109/L; platelet count − 247.33 ± 87.81 × 109/L and 250.06 ± 54.65 × 109/L; reticulocyte count − 1.24 ± 0.72% and 4.08 ± 0.39%; ESR − 40.74 ± 17.82 mm and 2.41 ± 1.13 mm in the first hour. There was a positive correlation between maternal and cord blood WBCs and neutrophil count (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: The values obtained in this study will serve as a guide for interpreting the haematological parameters of pregnant women at term and cord blood of newborns in the environment.