Abstract
Levels of total corticosteroids and unconjugated oestrone and oestradiol-17β in human umbilical arterial and venous plasma at the time of delivery were measured, using competitive protein-binding methods. Increased corticosteroid levels were associated with the establishment of labour and, following delivery at term (38-40 weeks), corticosteroid levels were least when the mother was not in labour and greatest when the mother was in established spontaneous labour at the time of delivery. A surge and peak in corticosteroid levels was observed at 35-37 weeks of gestation in infants delivered by elective Caesarean section and per vaginam following spontaneous labour and thus was not related to labour.
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