<p>Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The effects begin very early in life and cause significant impediments to growth and development. The fetus draws its entire requirements from the mother, at times to the detriment of her health. This iron transfer occurs in later stages of the pregnancy. Thus, babies born before term are vulnerable to a deficiency in iron stores and their deleterious effects. This study, therefore, was undertaken to evaluate the effect of maternal anaemia on the iron stores of newborns at different gestational ages by estimating and comparing cord blood serum ferritin levels in two groups of babies born to anaemic and non-anaemic mothers. The mean cord blood serum ferritin levels among very preterm, moderate to late preterm and term newborns among anaemic and non-anaemic mothers were estimated and compared to determine their status at different gestational ages. Serum ferritin values among babies born to anaemic and non-anaemic mothers showed a significant difference with higher values in babies born to the latter. Mean serum ferritin levels increased with advancing gestational age (p value 0.001 &lt; 0.05), showing a serial increase between very preterm, moderate to late preterm and term newborns and were better in the non-anaemic than in the anaemic group (p value 0.001 &lt; 0.05). Cord blood serum ferritin levels increased with advancing gestational age and were significantly lower in newborns of anaemic mothers particularly among very preterm infants.</p>