Large for gestational age: dilemma of the infant of the diabetic mother.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 128 pregnancies (131 infants) complicated by diabetes; 66 (51 per cent) were Class A and 62 (49 per cent) Class B-D-F-R. 53.9 per cent of all infants were large for gestational age (LGA) and there were no differences between the classes of diabetics. LGA infants occurred with equal frequency in those diabetic patients with pregnancy-induced or chronic hypertension. Congenital anomalies occurred in 9.7 per cent with 11/12 in Class A, B, or C. Major neonatal morbidity included: 1) hypoglycemia: two (3 per cent) Class A and 21 (32.8 per cent) insulin-dependent mothers (P less than 0.01); and 2) respiratory distress syndrome: seven (5.3 per cent) and all were in classes B-F (P less than 0.05). Modern management of diabetes in pregnancy has, for unknown reasons, increased the incidence of LGA infants.