The Effect of Maternal Glycemic Control on Fetal Growth in Diabetic Pregnancies

ABSTRACT

In this prospective study, we examined the effect of maternal glycemic control on fetal growth in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes. One hundred and sixty-five pregestational diabetic pregnancies were studied with serial ultrasound scans and fetal growth was examined as a function of maternal glycemic control. There was a significant, although small, reduction in fetal biparietal diameter growth rate in the presence of poor maternal glycemic control during the first half of the pregnancy. In the second half of pregnancy, maternal hyperglycemia contributed to fetal macrosomia. We conclude that in pregnancies with pregestational diabetes, maternal hyperglycemia affects fetal growth in a biphasic manner. As a result of that, although babies born to diabetic mothers appear of relatively overall normal size and weight, they may have smaller heads than their potential and more fat.

Keywords

Pregestational diabetes mellitus - fetal growth - glycemic control