Fetal behavior in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnant women: An exploratory study.
To characterize differential behavior and the relationship between maternal blood glucose levels and behavior in fetuses of diabetic (n = 10) and nondiabetic (n = 20) women at 33 and 36 weeks gestational age (GA), spontaneous changes in fetal heart rate (FHR), body and breathing movements, and vibroacoustic stimulus elicited (3 stimulus/3 no-stimulus control trials) FHR changes and body movements were compared. Measures of maternal blood glucose levels were obtained immediately following testing; measures varied within normal range. Spontaneous behaviors showed no differences between groups and no relationship to maternal blood glucose levels. Sensory stimulation elicited similar average peak FHR accelerations (M = 17. 1/20.0 BPM) and average movement scores (2.0/2.6) across groups. In the diabetic group at 33 weeks GA, the nature of the FHR change over time, showed more varied patterns of response, a shorter latency to peak acceleration, was less organized, and less mature; as average maternal blood glucose levels increased, elicited body movements decreased. These findings suggest immaturity and differential functional development of sensory-motor response systems in fetuses of diabetic mothers.
Allen
C L
CL
School of Nursing, Queen's University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada.
Kisilevsky
B S
BS
D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
D001786:Blood Glucose