Profile of mothers and newborns in the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

This is a quantitative study aiming to identify the profile of mothers and newborns (NB) in the presence of gestational dia­betes mellitus (GDM) in Fortaleza-Ceará/2006. The sample comprised 51 women and their newborns. As for the mother, the results showed 60.7% aged over 30 years; 15.6% with hypertension and 29.5% with urinary tract infection; 89.2% had had cesarean delivery; 35.3% had had family history of diabetes; 21.5% had had premature delivery; 35.2%, had had previous abortion and 82.3% had attended antenatal care. As for NBs, 23.5% had been breastfed in the first hour of life; 33.3% had had respiratory distress, hypoglycemia 9.8%, 25.5%, weight> 4,000gr; 47.0%jaundice, 5.9%, had had fetal malformation and 25.4% hadn’t had any other problems, and had been sent to rooming-in. Due to such circumstances, it is highlighted the fact that such women point to the need for women with gestational diabetes to be sent to centers which offer appropriate care, and to ensure adequate follow-up to the mother and child binomial.