Perinatal outcome of babies delivered to eclamptic mothers: A retrospective study in a rural teaching hospital of western Maharashtra

Abstract

Background: Eclampsia is an important cause of significant neonatal morbidity in terms of prematurity, Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR), Low Birth Weight (LBW), and birth asphyxia. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the perinatal outcome with respect to maternal and neonatal characteristics and to evaluate the neonatal morbidity/ mortality. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 75 cases of eclampsia, 68 liveborn neonates and 39 neonates admitted at the teaching Hospital, situated in rural Maharashtra from January 2020 to November 2020 were analysed and findings were presented in tables. Results: Of 75 eclamptic mothers, 55 (73.33%) were primipara and 20 (26.67%) were multipara. Mean maternal age was 22 years. Mean gestational age was 34 + 6 weeks. Fifty-six (75%) mothers needed lower uterine caesarean section. The majority of eclamptic mothers had less than optimal antenatal care, primigravidae (74.67%) and young (less than 20 years). Out of 68 live born neonates 60.3 % were preterm. One fourth of them were very preterm. Three fourth neonates born were low birth weight (LBW), amongst them 2 were extremely LBW. Nearly one fourth neonates were small of gestational age (SGA). More than half of neonates required specialised care in neonatal unit. Indications for admission were prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, growth retardation, perinatal asphyxia and early-onset sepsis. Overall neonatal mortality was 5.26% (4/68) and 10% (4/39) amongst admitted newborns. Causes of death were extreme LBW and sepsis. Conclusion: Significant neonatal morbidity has been observed in neonates born to eclamptic mothers in the rural population. Neonatal problems requiring special/intensive neonatal care were prematurity, LBW, IUGR, and birth asphyxia. Neonatal mortality amongst admitted newborns was 10%. Extreme LBW and sepsis were the causes for neonatal death.