Transplacental metabolic alkalosis.

We present a newborn with hypochloraemic metabolic alkalosis due to severe metabolic alkalosis of his mother. Hypoventilation as a leading symptom resolved quickly with treatment but may be life-threatening if not detected. In this case, the mother had a probable eating disorder. Little is known about transplacentally acquired electrolyte disorders in this setting. In the absence of symptoms, most of the cases might be undetected. The usual neonatal outcome of anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa in pregnancy is a lower birthweight and a lower risk for instrumental delivery.