Several factors can contribute to neonatal polycythemia, including:
- Placental Insufficiency: Conditions like placental insufficiency, where the placenta does not deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, can lead to increased RBC production. - Maternal Diabetes: Infants born to mothers with diabetes are at higher risk due to chronic intrauterine hypoxia. - Delayed Cord Clamping: Delayed clamping of the umbilical cord can result in higher blood volume and RBC count. - Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: In monochorionic twin pregnancies, one twin may receive more blood than the other, leading to polycythemia in one twin and anemia in the other.
