Aim: To compare the early neonatal problems of macrosomic babies born to diabetic and nondiabetic mothers . Methods: The files of 220 babies born in the past 3 years with a birthweight ≥4000 g were analysed retrospectively, and babies with missing data were excluded from the analysis (n=61). The data of 63 babies born to diabetic mothers and 96 babies born to nondiabetics were analysed (n=159). Maternal age, gravidity, parity, method of delivery, babies’ gestational age, gender, anthropometric measurements, birth traumas, cord blood gases, Apgar scores, respiratory problems, hypoglycemia, polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia, pathological weight loss and duration of hospitalization were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed by Windows SPSS program, with a p<0.05 as a criteria for significance. Results: Gravidity was higher in the diabetic group (2.8 vs 2.2), while parity was the same. Gestational age (39 vs 39 5/7 wks) and pH was lower (7.29 vs 7.31), and hematocrit was higher in the diabetic group (59 % vs 56 %). Pathological weight loss was more frequent in the nondiabetic group (42 % vs 27 %). Hypoglycemia was seen more often in the diabetic group (31 % vs 15 %). There were no significant differences in other variables between the two groups. Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is more frequent in macrosomic babies born to diabetic mothers compared with babies of nondiabetics, while macrosomic babies of nondiabetics experience hypoglycemia more often than babies with normal birthweights. There are no differences for other complications between two groups. Thus, the follow-up principles of macrosomic infants should be the same, independent of the mother’s diabetic status.
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