Relationship between maternal and fetal blood glucose during labor

Abstract

The metabolism of glucose is extremely important to both the fetus and neonate, but previous investigations into the relationships between maternal and fetal blood glucose concentrations have been restricted by the use of cord blood specimens. In the present study the technique of fetal blood collection through the partially dilated cervix has been employed. Blood glucose concentration in the fetus during labor was found to be closely related to the maternal concentration and was increased in the cord at delivery only in those cases in which the maternal level had also risen. Elevation of maternal and fetal blood glucose levels were produced by intravenous dextrose. With rapid injection comparable, elevations of maternal and fetal levels were produced and both had returned to preinjection levels after 2 hours. The lowest fetal blood glucose was found in association with severe fetal hypoxia resulting from placental insufficiency. Even in this case, fetal blood glucose was rapidly elevated by a maternal dextrose infusion.