Comparison of Blood Glucose Levels in Caesarean and Vaginally Delivered Newborns at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Keywords
Newborn, Neonate, Blood Glucose, Vaginal Delivery, Caesarean Section.
Abstract
Background: Normal blood glucose supply and metabolism are of utmost importance for growth and normal brain development in the foetus and newborn. Disorders in glucose supply or metabolism can result in hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. Considering the increasing trend of caesarean section (CS) worldwide, including Nigeria, it is important to determine the incidence and type of dysglycaemia in neonates delivered by CS. The study objective was to compare the blood glucose (BG) levels of newborns delivered by CS with those by vaginal delivery (VD).
Methodology: This was a prospective observational study of 164 neonates, of which 85 were delivered through CS and 79 through VD. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic variables, gestational age, feeding time of the new-born and maternal fasting time, while BG was determined using Accu-chek Multiclix. Every tenth sample was also tested in the laboratory for quality control.
Results: The mean (SD) cord blood glucose level was lower in the CS (68.7(10.1) mg/dl) than VD neonates (80.9(11.5) mg/dl, p = <0.001). The mean (SD) blood glucose level at 2 hours of life was also lower in CS (62.5(10.0) mg/dl) than VD neonates (71.2(10.9) mg/dl, p = <0.001). Factors that were significantly associated with cord BG levels were gestational age, maternal fasting time and mode of delivery. At two hours of life, cord blood, neonatal feeding time, gestational age and birth weight were significantly associated with neonatal BG levels.
Conclusion: Cord and neonatal BG were significantly lower in neonates who were delivered via CS compared to those delivered vaginally.
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