Emergence of behavioural states in fetuses of type-1-diabetic women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tightly controlled maternal (type-1-)diabetes mellitus on the development of fetal behavioural states. Seventeen diabetic women, who required insulin (White's class C predominantly) and were treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy, participated in the study. Adjustment to an insulin-pump occurred before conception or during early pregnancy. In all diabetic women (near-)normoglycemia was achieved during pregnancy, with glycosylated hemoglobin-values within the normal range (6–8.5%). Fifty-three 2-h recordings of fetal heart rate, uterine contractions and of real-time ultrasound scanning for fetal body movements, breathing and eye movements were obtained from the 17 fetuses. The fetuses were longitudinally studied between 32 and 40 weeks post menstrual age, at intervals of 2 weeks. The 3 state variables, fetal heart rate, body movements and eye movements, were analyzed for the presence of combinations meeting the definitions of the four fetal behavioural states. Findings in the fetuses of diabetic women were compared with those obtained from 28 low risk fetuses. The criteria of states were met in only 3 of 8 fetuses studied at 38 weeks and in one of two studied at 40 weeks. For comparison: in low risk fetuses studied at 38 and 40 weeks, states were present in 70% and 90% of the cases, respectively. This poorly developed state organization exhibited by the near term fetuses of the diabetic group, was related to maternal parity, but not to pre- or postconceptional onset of CSII-treatment. Fetuses of nulliparous diabetic women showed more often asynchrony of transitions (>3 min) and interruption of periods of concordant association. This resulted in significantly higher percentages of ‘no-coincidence’ and in low incidence of behavioural states as compared with control fetuses of nulliparous women. In the few multiple diabetic cases studied near term the development of fetal behavioural states was normal. We conclude therefore that, despite tight control of maternal diabetes, the development of behavioural states is distributed in fetuses of nulliparous diabetic women.