Haematological parameters of newborns delivered vaginally versus caesarean section

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mode of delivery on the haematological parameters of newborns (caesarean section against normal vaginal delivery). Background: Complete blood count (CBC) correlates highly with gestational age, birth weight, blood sampling site, crying, physical therapy, mode of delivery and other factors. Participants and methods: This study was carried out on 72 neonates. Group I included 31 neonates delivered vaginally. Group II included 41 neonates delivered by caesarean section. CBC was performed on these neonates from umbilical cord blood immediately after birth. Results: Haemoglobin, red blood cell count, haematocrit, platelet, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils in full-term neonates delivered vaginally were significantly higher than those of neonates delivered by caesarean section. However, there was no significant difference in the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, lymphocytes and monocytes. There was a significant increase in haemoglobin, red blood cell count, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, red cell distribution width, platelets, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes in preterm neonates delivered vaginally than those delivered by caesarean section, whereas there was no significant difference in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, basophils and monocytes. Conclusion: Mode of delivery is one of the perinatal factors that affects neonatal CBC.