Assessment of selected factors influencing birthweight in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES: Giving birth to a chi;d with an excessive brithweight is one of the most common neonate complications observed in the pregnant women with gestation diabetes (GDM). DESIGN: The aim of the study was an evaluation of selected factors affecting birthweight in the GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 867 pregnant women were analysed. The influence of: age, height, place of living and mother's educational background and BMI before pregnancy and weight gain during pregnancy and also HbA1c, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) values in the 3rd term of pregnancy (T3) were determined. The TC and TG were assessed by the enzymatic method by means of the Bio Merieux firm set--France, HbA1c by means of the immunoturbidimetric method using the Roche firm sets--France. RESULTS: Statistically significant birthweight differences were affirmed according to: mother's height (respectively the groups: or = 170 cm), BMI before pregnancy ( or = 30 kg/m2), weight gain in pregnancy ( or = 12 kg), TG ( 2.7 mmol/l) and HbA1c in T3. No influence of mother's age, her place of living, educational background, HbA1c at admission and TC values in T3 on the neonates birthweight was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The anthropometric and environmental factors (mother's height, weight, weight gain in pregnancy) have a more significant influence on the neonates birthweight of the mothers with GDM, than social-demographic factors (age, educational background, place of living), the way of treatment of GDM and TC in T3. The TG level in T3, beside HbA1c is an independent, prognostic factor of birthweight in GDM.