Diabetic mothers and their newborn infants - rooming-in and neonatal morbidity

Aim: As a result of increased neonatal morbidity, the infants of diabetic mothers have routinely been admitted to a neonatal special care unit (NSCU). We therefore investigated whether the offer of rooming-in diabetic mothers and their newborn infants has an effect on neonatal morbidity. Methods: The records of an old cohort of 103 infants routinely admitted to the NSCU, and a new cohort (N = 102), offered rooming-in were assessed for neonatal morbidity. Results: Eighty-four (82%) of the new cohort infants followed their mothers to the maternity ward; whereas 19 (18%) were transferred to the NSCU chiefly because of prematurity. Ten infants were later transferred to the NSCU for minor problems. Neonatal morbidity and neonatal hypoglycaemia were significantly less common in the new cohort than in the old cohort [27 (26%) vs. 55 (54%), p < 0.001 and 42 (41%) vs. 64 (63%), p = 0.0027 respectively]. Maternal HbA1c in late pregnancy was significantly lower in the new cohort, but the only independent predictors of neonatal morbidity were belonging to the old cohort and preterm delivery. Conclusion: Neonatal care with rooming-in mothers with type 1 diabetes and their newborn infants seems safe and is associated with reduced neonatal morbidity, when compared with routine separation of infants from their mothers.