H. C. J. Scheepers, M. C. J. Thans, P. A. de Jong, G. G. M. Essed, H. H. H. Kanhai
The effects of oral carbohydrate administration on fetal acid base balance
Aims: Little evidence-based data are available on the effects
of eating and drinking during labor. Intravenous
glucose administration has been related to fetal metabolic
acidosis. The question is, whether oral intake of carbohydrates
effects the fetal acid-base balance.
Methods: In a double blind, prospective placebo controlled
study 100 nulliparous women were randomized at
8–10 cm of cervical dilatation. All women were asked to
drink 200 cc of either a carbohydrate solution (containing
25 grams carbohydrates) or placebo. In all women,
both arterial and venous umbilical cord pH, pCO2, pO2,
HCO3- and base excess/deficit were assessed. In a subgroup
of women, whose deliveries were complicated by
mild signs of fetal distress, clinical outcome and acid-base
status was described separately.
Results: Fetal arterial umbilical cord pH were identical:
7.20 +/? 0.07 in the placebo group and 7.20 +/? 0.08 in the
carbohydrate group and the base excess ?6.6 +/? 2.8 versus
6.6 +/? 3.7. In the women with mild signs of fetal distress,
no differences were observed as well.
Conclusions: Oral carbohydrate intake during labor
seems to be safe regarding the fetal acid-base balance.
Further study on the maternal and fetal metabolic parameters
is essential to give a more complete picture.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 30, 09/2002
Pages: 400 - 404
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