Serum bilirubin level in newborn of diabetic and hypertensive mothers

ABSTRACT

A total number of 140 newborn infants were studied for bilirubin levels. They were divided to forty infants of diabetic mothers [20 oxytocin induced labour and 20 oxytocin augmented], 40 infants of hypertensive mothers [20 oxytocin induced and 20 augmented labours] and 60 controls [20 induced, 20 augmented and 20 with no oxytocin given]. It was found that total and unconjugated bilirubin levels were higher in infants delivered after induction of labour, whether they were diabetic, hypertensive or not, than in infants of non induced labours. Bilirubin levels were also mildly high in infants of augmented diabetics after delivery which was nullified after 24 hours. These results suggest that the increased bilirubin levels are related to induced labours rather than to the medical problem of the mothers, provided that the newborns are of average weight