Fetal Breathing Activity in WelLControlled Dietary-Treated Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to assess fetal breathing activity in well-controlled gestational diabetic women. The study group included 20 dietary-treated well-controlled gestational diabetic women in their third trimester. During a 20-min observation period, the number and length of breathing episodes and the number of breathing movements in each episode were recorded, and the percentage of time spent in breathing activity and the frequency of fetal breathing movements were calculated. The control group included 20 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, matched for gestational age. The fetuses of the study group spent more time in breathing activity (65% vs. 26%, P 30s (8.25 vs. 2.4, P < 0.0001). This occurred despite similar blood glucose levels in the two groups, sampled just before the recordings. No differences were found in either the number of short breathing episodes or the rate of breathing movements per minute. Fetal brea...