Outcome of diabetic pregnancy with spontaneous labour after 38 weeks

Abstract  One hundred and forty-eight patients with well controlled insulin dependent diabetes that were allowed to labour spontaneously
from 1981 to 1994 were reviewed. There were 2 perinatal deaths, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 13.5/1000. One hundred
and twenty-four patients (84 per cent) had a normal vaginal delivery, 13 (9 per cent) forceps delivery and 11 (7 per cent)
caesarean section. Twenty-one infants (14 per cent) required admission to a Special Care Baby Unit. One third of infants weighed
4 Kg or more, however there was only 1 case of shoulder dystocia. We compared these results with those of the general hospital
population of 1987. The 2 main differences are; 1) the Caesarean section rate in labour was higher for this diabetic group
than for the general hospital population, 7 per cent versus 3.4 per cent, 2) the birth weight was heavier, 33 per cent of
infants of the diabetic group weighed 4 Kg or more versus 18 per cent of the general hospital population. The other parameters
were comparable. We conclude that conservative management of pregnancy in well controlled diabetic women is advantageous,
resulting in a high vaginal delivery rate without an increase in shoulder dystocia, and a low perinatal morbidity and mortality
rate.

Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/BF02945844Authors
F. M. McAuliffe, National Maternity Hospital Dublin IrelandM. Foley, National Maternity Hospital Dublin IrelandR. Firth, National Maternity Hospital Dublin IrelandI. Drury, National Maternity Hospital Dublin IrelandJ. M. Stronge, National Maternity Hospital Dublin Ireland



Journal Irish Journal of Medical ScienceOnline ISSN 1863-4362Print ISSN 0021-1265

Journal Volume Volume 168

Journal Issue Volume 168, Number 3 / April, 1999 (Source: Irish Journal of Medical Science)

 

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