Trace Element Levels In Feto-Placental Unit And Fetal Growth Relation In Nigerian Pregnant Women

Aims: Trace elements are useful for life maintenance both for mother and the growing fetus. Objective: To examine whether fetal growth is associated with changes in concentration of trace element in maternal blood, fetal blood and placenta tissue. Method & Material: Fifteen (15) pairs of normal mothers and their fetus with intrauterine growth retardation delivered after 33 completed weeks of pregnancy were compared with the same number of (15) fifteen pairs of normal maternal and their appropriate gestational age fetuses as controls. Maternal venous blood, umbilical and placental tissue were collected immediatel…