Neonatal Morphometrics Measured Within 6–18 Hours Of Birth From Active Gestational Diabetic Women

Abstract

Neonates of overweight/obese (OW) women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at an increased risk of being large at birth (macrosomic). PURPOSE: To compare the neonatal morphometrics of overweight/obese GDM women (GDM-OW; N=9) to normal glycemic women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) <25kg/m2 (NG-NW; N=10) and normal glycemic women with a pre-pregnancy BMI >25.0kg/m2 (NG-OW, N=10) who followed a nutrition and exercise program during pregnancy. METHODS: All women participated in a nutritional control (8360 kJ/day with 200g carbohydrate/day) and mild intensity (30% VO2peak) walking program 3–4 times per week from 16–20 wk gestation to delivery. Within 6–18 hours after delivery, neonatal morphometrics were measured. Neonatal percent body fat was calculated (Dauncey et al. Arch Dis Child, 1977; Catalano et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1995) and birth measurements were compared to standard growth charts. RESULTS: Neonatal birth weight (GDM-OW = 3757g + 745; NG-OW = 3604g + 615; NG-NW = 3439g + 245) and calculated neonatal body fat (Dauncey/Catalano: GDM-OW = 26.7% + 8.0/20.6% + 4.8; NG-OW = 24.8% + 9.9/16.9% + 5.4; NG-NW = 24.2% + 7.7/16.1% +2.8) were not significantly different between groups. All three groups of neonates were of normal birth weight. However, both body fat equations were significantly different from each other. Data were reported as mean + standard deviation. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results indicated that OW women with GDM who follow a standard diet and structured walking program can deliver normal weight infants. Further research is required with a larger cohort of women to confirm these results. Supported by: Molly Towell Research Foundation; Canadian Armed Forces Personnel Agency; Canadian Institute of Health Research-IAPH.