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 nond iabetic (n = 20) women at 33 and 36 weeks gestational age (GA), spontaneous changes in fetal heart rate (FHR), body and breathing movements, and vibro ncoustic stimulus elicited (3 stimulus/3 no-stimulus control trials) FHR ch anges 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 an d no relationship to maternal blood glucose levels. Sensory stimulation eli cited similar average peak FHR accelerations (M = 17.1/20.0 BPM) and averag e movement scores (2.0/2.6) across groups. In the diabetic group at 33 week s GA, the nature of the FHR change over time, shelved more varied patterns of response, a shorter latency to peak acceleration, was less organized, an d less mature; as average maternal blood glucose levels increased, elicited body movements decreased. These findings suggest immaturity and differenti al functional development of sensory-motor response systems in fetuses of d iabetic mothers. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.