Infants of diabetic mothers

Abstract

While advances in maternal and neonatal medical care continue to improve the outcomes for infants born to mothers with glucose intolerance during pregnancy, the risks for spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, congenital malformations, and perinatal mortality and morbidity still exist. Abnormal maternal glycemic control caused by gestational diabetes mellitus or pregestational diabetes mellitus complicate up to 10% of pregnancies, and as the significantly overweight pediatric population develops into their child-bearing years, this number is likely to rise [1]. Pregnancies of mothers with diabetes are given increased surveillance, as the multifaceted metabolic changes that occur in the mother can place the infant at risk for periconceptional, fetal, neonatal, and long-term morbidities [1, 2]. Fortunately, appropriate periconceptional and prenatal care can improve the risks of perinatal complications by close monitoring of maternal glycemic control.