Relation between 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration in maternal red cells and duration of labour and newborn birth weight in anaemic pregnant women.

We have found a high negative correlation between the 2,3-DPG level and the duration of labour (r = -0.586). The correlation between red cell 2,3-DPG concentration and newborn birth weight was 0.576. Both relations are statistically significant with p less than 0.01. These results suggest that the increased 2,3-DPG concentration in maternal red cells facilitates the release of oxygen to uterine muscle and to the foetus and thus helps the normal intrauterine development of foetus and reduces the duration of labour.