The Effects of Booking Status on the Outcome of Infants of ≥32 Weeks Gestational Age Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a Tertiary Academic Center

Introduction Antenatal care (ANC) is a systematic examination and follow-up of pregnant women that involves education, counseling, screening, and treatment of any complications encountered. ANC is an essential measure that significantly decreases devastating maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aimed to explore the maternal and fetal outcomes of mothers who did and did not book follow-ups and had their newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional study between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, at KAUH in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from electronic medical records and paper documents. Maternal demographic and pregnancy information were collected in addition to neonatal outcomes. Results The study included 186 participants, with a median maternal age of 32 years (interquartile range (IQR) 27-36). Cesarean section was the predominant mode of delivery (67.2%), with a median gestational age at birth of 36 weeks (IQR 34-38). Most women (69.4%) booked follow-ups, while 40.3% developed chronic comorbid conditions during pregnancy. The newborn sex ratio was nearly even between males and females, with a median birthweight of 2325 g (IQR 1740-2900) and median Apgar scores of 7 (IQR 5-9) and 9 (IQR 8-10) at 1 and 5 min, respectively. Jaundice was the most common postnatal complication (51.6%), followed by hypoglycemia (18.8%), while 23.7% of babies had congenital anomalies. There was a significant association between booking status and nationality, maternal age, cesarean section, maternal comorbid conditions, the outcome of multiple gestations, and postnatal complications, including jaundice and hypoglycemia. Decreasing maternal age (odds ratio (OR) 0.755, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.585-0.974) and Apgar score at 5 min (OR 0.096, 95% CI 0.012-0.795) were the only significant predictors of fetal mortality. Conclusion The study revealed suboptimal adherence to ANC among pregnant women with newborns admitted to the NICU, along with poorer maternal and fetal outcomes, with respect to neonatal jaundice, hypoglycemia, and the need for resuscitation.