1. COMPARISON OF BETWEEN MELATONIN LEVELS IN COLOSTRUM IN VAGINAL BIRTHS AND CESAREAN BIRTHS
Dr Müberra Namlı Kalem

2. Melatonin in Newborn Circadian rhythm regulation
Protective effect against oxidative damages such as respiratory distress (RDS) and perinatal brain injury
Protective effect against necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis due to its bactericidal feature
Invigorating role in immune defense
Neonatal analgesic effect

3. In the first three postnatal months, there is almost no melatonin production in newborns; rhythmicity of melatonin cannot be detected until between weeks 8 and 12 following the delivery . Transient melatonin deficiency during this period is compensated by melatonin in breast milk.

4. Objective
This study aimed at investigating whether levels of melatonin, of which importance has been shown in many studies for newborns, in colostrum differ by type of birth.

5. Study Design
This is a prospective case-control study conducted with 139 mothers who gave live births between February- December 2016.
The mothers were divided into three groups in regard to type of birth:
60 (43.2%) mothers in the vaginal delivery group
47 (33.8%) mothers in the elective c/s group
32 (23.0%) mothers in the emergency c/s group.
Colostrum of the mothers was taken between 01:00 and 03:00 am within hours following the delivery and the melatonin levels were measured with ELISA and compared between groups

6. Exclusion Criteria Prenatal fetal losses Diabetes Hypertension
Anemia lower than Hb 9 gr/dl
Thyroid disorders
Chronic inflammatory disorders
Autoimmun disorders
Any medication
Could not provide 5 ml of colostrum

7. Results
It was seen that the melatonin level in colostrum was the highest in the vaginal delivery group, lower in the elective CS group and the lowest in the emergency CS group.
The melatonin levels in colostrum did not differ by demographics, gestational age, birthweight, newborn gender, APGAR scores and whether the newborns needed intensive care.

8. Table 1. Colostrum melatonin levels, age, BMI, birthweight, gestational age and APGAR scores by type of birth

9. Figure 1. Melatonin levels in colostrum by type of birth are seen in pg/mL.

10. Conclusion
Colostrum melatonin levels of the mothers who had vaginal delivery were found to be higher than the mothers who gave birth by CS, and in consideration of known benefits of melatonin on newborns, it is thought that newborns who were born vaginally are more advantageous.