Abstract
Data from the NINDS Collaborative Study and others suggests that infants of diabetic mothers do more poorly than matched controls in specific development tests at age 4 years. This study assesses the behavior of these newborns of diabetic mothers (NDM's) in order to understand the genesis of these later problems and to design appropriate interventions.
Ten full-term NDM's delivered by elective Caesarian section were compared to ten healthy full-term newborns delivered by elective Caesarian section on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment scale administered on days 3 and 5. All NDM's were free of all anomalies, metabolic and respiratory problems and considered healthy by their pediatricians by day 3. Brazelton scale data were analyzed with an a priori established cluster and profile scheme. The NDM's did significantly more poorly than the control newborns in physiological responses to stress and on interactive processes (Repeated measures ANOVA, p≥0.05, p≥0.001). In particular, the NDM's were more tremulous, had more startles and showed more color changes with handling even though they were normoglycemic and normocalcemic. Furthermore, NDM's behaved differently than controls on those behaviors considered important elicitors of caregiving by parents: attractiveness, need for and use of stimulation, visual orientation, sustaining periods of alertness and molding to the examiner's body during cuddling. It is speculated that the behavioral difficulties demonstrated in these newborns may influence early interaction with caregivers, make bonding more difficult and set the stage for later problems.
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Yogman, M., Cole, P., Als, H. et al. 80 THE BEHAVIORAL OF NEWBORNS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 377 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00085
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00085