THE INFLUENCE OF SOME PERINATAL VARIABLES ON NEONATAL BLOOD-PRESSURE

Adult hypertension has been linked to fetal growth. This study investi gates whether this link is evident in the newborn. We measured blood p ressure by oscillometry in 248 healthy neonates on day 3/4 of life. An tenatal data and neonatal measurements were obtained from hospital rec ords. Elevated neonatal blood pressure correlated with higher birthwei ght. There was no correlation between placental weight and blood press ure. Babies born by caesarean section had lower systolic blood pressur e. Babies of maternal smokers had higher diastolic blood pressure, but their mothers (45% of this study) had lower blood pressure than non-s mokers. Thus, smoking was associated with a significant change in both maternal and neonatal blood pressure, and may be an important influen ce on the developing cardiovascular system.