Macrosonic babies: Anthropometric comparison between diabetuc and non - diabetic pregnancies

ABSTRACT

The incidence of perinatal morbidity is directly related to fetal macrosomia [birth weight >/= 4000 g], but this morbidity is more common in macrosomic infants born to diabetic mothers. Aim: To measure the anthropometric parameters in two groups of full term macrosomic infants who were born from diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancies and to compare their morbidities. Method: Gestational assessment and anthropometric measurements were done on 133 consecutive macrosomic infants, out of which 72 were born to non-diabetic mothers and 61 to diabetic mothers. The morbidity of the two groups were recorded and compared. Result: Although the macrosomic neonates born to diabetic pregnancies had the same lengths and head circumference when compared to fetal macrosomia of non-diabetic mothers, the former group was significantly heavier with larger mid-shoulder and chest circumferences and greater shoulder to head and chest to head disproportion. Among macrosomic infants of diabetic pregnancies, Erb's palsy occurred in 3, sboulder dystocia in 2 and one had fracture of clavicle, whereas only one Erb's palsy was found among macrosomic babies of non-diabetic pregnancies. Although our data revealed higher morbidity in macrosomic infants of diabetic compared to non-diabetic pregnancies the number of patients in study groups were too few to draw any conclusions. This study suggests that if fetal macrosomia is suspected, especially in a diabetic pregnancy, ultrasonic measurement of anthropometric parameters could be of value to select the route of delivery and to minimize birth trauma