Abstract
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most commonly occurring complications and metabolic disorders during pregnancy and is defined as glucose intolerance with first onset during pregnancy. GDM is linked to adverse neonatal outcomes, which is the most challenging public health concern around the globe. Birth weight (BW), head circumference (HC), and total length of the neonate (TL) are the simplest and most reliable metrics to assess the neonatal outcome.

Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study was to compare the means of BW, HC, TL, and gestational age between GDM and non-GDM groups and to find the association of low BW (LBW), pre-term, and macrosomia with GDM.

Materials and Methods: An institutional-based prospective study was executed in The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics in SRMC RI, Tamil Nadu, India. Three hundred and ten GDM mothers with their neonates and 620 non-GDM singleton pregnant women with their neonates (1:2 ratio) were recruited into the study. Various maternal and neonatal details include age of mother, obstetric history, BW, HC, TL of neonate, macrosomia, LBW, and pre-term status that were recorded and analyzed in SPSS 20.0 software. Categorical variables were presented in proportions. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the means of BW, HC, TL, and gestational age between GDM and non-GDM categories, and the Chi-square test was applied to find out the association between categorical variables. P < 0.05 at a confidence interval 95% was considered statistically significant.

Results: Mean maternal age of GDM and Non-GDM groups was 27.82 ± 4.2 and 25.4 ± 3.6 years. The HC, TL, and BW of GDM group neonates were 33.69 ± 1.396 cm, 48.90 ± 2.083 cm, and 2981.19 ± 467.368 g, and among Non-GDM group neonates were 33.26 ± 1.474 cm, 47.99 ± 2.144 cm, and 2875.48 ± 451.363 g. The mean BW, HC, and TL were higher (P < 0.05) in neonates of GDM mothers compared to non-GDM group. LBW, macrosomia, and pre-term were not significantly associated with GDM.

Conclusion: BW, HC, and TL of neonates of GDM mothers were significantly higher, irrespective of maternal glycemic control during the pregnancy. However, this increase in the BW does not constitute for macrosomia. Pre-term neonates were not associated with GDM status.

Key words: Neonatal Outcome; Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Head Circumference; Birth Weight; Baby Length