Body and breathing movements in near-term fetuses and newborn infants of type-1 diabetic women

Abstract

The generation of body and breathing movements was studied in relation to behavioural states in near-term fetuses ( n = 12) and newborn infants ( n = 7) of women with well-controlled type-1 diabetes. Results obtained from low-risk fetuses ( n = 12) and neonates ( n = 14) were used for comparison. Before birth, 2-h recordings were made of fetal heart rate and of fetal body movements, breathing and eye movements; the neonates were studied polygraphically during 6 h for heart rate, body movements, respiration, eye movements and EEG-pattern. The generation of body movements was similar in the fetuses of the diabetic and control groups. After birth, the duration per burst was longer in the diabetic group, both in state 1 and state 2, resulting in increased incidences. The incidence of fetal breathing movements tended to be higher in the diabetic group, but differences with the control group did not reach statistical significance. Breathing rate was considerably slower in fetuses of diabetic women present before birth. Periodic breathing occurred more often in the infants of diabetic women, especially in state 2 ( P < 0.02). Behavioural state organization was poor in the diabetic group, both before and after birth and resembled that of more immature fetuses and infants. The continuity of the poor behavioural state regulation from prenatal into postnatal life indicates that this cannot be attributed to the instantaneous unfavourable condition before birth. type-1 diabetes mellitus; fetus and newborn infant; behavioural states; body movements; breathing movements than in control fetuses, both in C1F ( P < 0.001) and C2F ( P < 0.002). This indicates altered regulation of breathing movements in diabetic pregnancy. In the neonates, breathing rate was identical in both groups. In either group breathing was slower in state 1 than in state 2; such a difference was not