İstanbul Medical Journal (Sep 2019)

Neonatal Morbidity in Macrosomic Infants

  • Asuman Güney,
  • Didem Arman,
  • Serdar Cömert

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4274/imj.galenos.2019.26986
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 5
pp. 398 – 402

Abstract

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Introduction:Macrosomy is defined as birth weight being over 4000 grams. Neonatal complications are common in macrosomic infants. In this study, we aimed to compare macrosomic infants with normal weighed infants in terms of neonatal morbidities.Methods:Macrosomic infants born between 01.01.2015 and 31.08.2015 were included in the study. The study group consisted of 100 infants (group 1) with a birth weight above 4000 grams and the control group consisted of 100 infants (group 2) weighing between 2500-4000 grams. Antenatal, natal and postnatal data of macrosomic and normal weighed infants were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 for Windows.Results:Maternal age, macrosomic sibling history, prenatal body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy were found to be significantly higher in the macrosomic group (p=0.047, p=0.001, p=0.003, and p=0.007, respectively). Gestational week and male gender ratio of infants were higher in the macrosomic group. In the macrosomic group, 1-minute Apgar score was significantly lower, but there was no significant difference in 5-minute Apgar score. The rate of positive pressure ventilation was higher in the macrosomic group (p=0.04). The incidence of clavicle fracture, caput succadeneum and ecchymosis was higher in the macrosomic group (p=0.004, p=0.005 and p=0.022, respectively), but there was no significant difference in plexus brachialis paralysis and cephal hematoma. While hypoglycemia and pathological weight loss were significantly higher in the macrosomic group (p=0.03, p=0.038, respectively), there was no difference between the groups in terms of other variables.Conclusion:Maternal age, history of macrosomic birth, high prenatal BMI, excess weight gain during pregnancy and gestational diabetes in the mother constitute risk for macrosomic birth. Birth trauma, hypoglycemia and pathological weight loss are common in these infants. For this reason, it is very important to carry out the physical examination of macrosomic infants carefully after birth and to closely monitor them with blood sugar and weight control.

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