title: Impact of maternal fasting on fetal well-being parameters and fetal-neonatal outcome: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of maternal fasting on fetal well-being parameters and neonatal outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred ten healthy women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies at 36-40 weeks' gestation who had fasted for 12-16 h were defined as the study group with 240 healthy non-fasted pregnant women matched for age, parity and gestational age were defined as the control group. Both groups were subjected to tests of fetal well-being in the form of non-stress test (NST), modified biophysical profile and Doppler indices of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Women were followed-up till delivery to record the obstetric outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the reactivity of NST, modified biophysical scores, Doppler indices of the umbilical and MCA (resistive index, pulsatility index and systolic/diastolic ratio) and the cerebroplacental ratio (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, neonatal weight, 5-min Apgar scores and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term maternal fasting has no deleterious effect on fetal well-being parameters or neonatal outcome. Pregnant women who desire fasting, should be reassured regarding the health of their babies.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt .
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abd-Allah Rezk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt .
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sayyed
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt .|b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Faculty of Medicine, Taibah University , Madina , Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abo-Elnasr
authors.affiliation: c Department of Radiology , Faculty of Medicine , and.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shawky
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pediatrics , Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University , Menoufia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Badr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cerebroplacental ratio; Doppler indices of umbilical artery; fetal well-being; maternal fasting; middle cerebral artery