A Study of Relationship Between Maternal Vitamin D Status and Mode of Delivery in a Tertiary Care Military Hospital

Abstract Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be related to multiple adverse pregnancy related outcomes. An observational study was undertaken to study the relationship between maternal serum vitamin D levels during peripartum period and outcome in the form of mode of delivery.Methods: This study was done in a tertiary care centre on 569 patients to study the relationship between maternal serum vitamin D levels and mode of delivery categorized into vaginal delivery (VD), (including assisted delivery) and Lower Segment Cesarean Section (LSCS). The primary objective of this project was to assess the vitamin D levels in maternal serum and to study its relationship, if any, with mode of delivery. Results: A total of 569 samples of maternal and neonatal serum were analyzed for serum 25(OH)D levels. 464 (81.54%) mothers had Vitamin D sufficient (VDS) levels ≥30ng/ml and 105 (18.45%) had vitamin D deficient (VDD) levels <30ng/ml. Out of total 569 newborns; LSCS and spontaneous Vaginal Delivery were 152 (26.71%) and 417 (73.28%) respectively. The incidence of LSCS was 19.61% in the vitamin D sufficient group as compared to 58.09% in the vitamin D deficient group (p<0.0005). The mean cord blood 25(OH) D levels of the neonates born by vaginal delivery was 14.05ng/ml (SD 3.86, range 8.2-27) whereas those born by LSCS was 12.11 ng/ml (SD 3.18, range 7.9-22), which was significantly lower (p<0.00000042).Conclusion: The rates of Cesarean section deliveries was 2.96 times higher in mothers who had deficient Vitamin D levels. Also the levels of mean cord blood vitamin D was higher in vaginally delivered newborns.