Morbidity and mortality amongst infants of diabetic mothers admitted into Soba university hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.

The prevalence of diabetes during pregnancy is increasing and this is associated with an increased risk of complications in both mother and fetus. The aim of this research is to study the neonatal complications of maternal diabetes. This was a prospective observational study that was conducted in Soba university hospital between September 2010 and March 2011. All infants born to diabetic mothers during the study period were admitted to the neonatal care unit for evaluation. Data on sex, gestational age, and birth weight, mode of delivery, complications, investigations, birth injury, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Maternal data were retrieved from records. Data was analyzed using Minitab 15. A total of 50 infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) were included in the study. Thirty infants (60%) were females and 20 (40%) were males. Forty two (84%) of the neonates were born by caesarian section, only 7(14%) were born by spontaneous vaginal delivery. Birth injury was observed in 4% of them. The mean gestational age was 37.2±2.051 weeks. The median birth weight was 3.5 kg. 14 (28%) of the babies were macrosomic, and 17 (34%) were large for gestational age (LGA). Congenital anomalies were found in 3 (6%), hypoglycemia in 6 (12%), hyperbillirubinaemia in 10 (20%), hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia each occurred in 2%, transient tachypnea of the newborn occurred in 5 (10%) of the neonates and respiratory distress syndrome in 2%. Cardiomyopathy occurred in 2% and mortality was 4%. We concluded that macrosomia, LGA, and hyperbillirubinaemia were the commonest complications in IDMs, maternal glycaemic control was found to have a significant effect on a number of outcomes.