May high oxygen affinity of maternal hemoglobin cause fetal growth retardation?

Eleven pregnant women with normal fetal outcome (controls), seven women with small for dates babies and 15 non-pregnant women were studied. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and the half saturation tension of oxygen, P50-value (as a measure for the oxygen affinity of Hb) were measured. Urine estriol excretion, HPL in plasma and antepartum cardiotocograms served as parameters of fetal well-being.