Infant of the diabetic mother: review of 225 cases

Abstract

The maternal and neonatal data on 225 infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) are presented. The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications confirms previous reports, indicating improved survival rates and decreasing neonatal morbidity for the IDM. The observed incidence of hyaline membrane disease was 2.8%, perhaps reflecting attempts to prolong pregnancy when possible to 39 weeks' gestation with judicious use of primary cesarean section. Further, from analysis of neonatal growth, the head circumference of the large-for-gestational-age infant was found to be significantly increased after 37 weeks' gestation. Whether or not this observation represents increased brain growth in these infants is not known.