Frequency of Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Large for Gestational Age Infants of Non-Diabetic Mothers in a Community Maternity Hospital

Large for gestational age (LGA) infants are at increased risk for hypoglycemia. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia in LGA infants of non-diabetic mothers in a Community Maternity Hospital in Gaziantep, Turkey. Hospital records of 5229 infants of non-diabetic mothers were examined retrospectively. Newborns with birth weight more than 4000 g were defined as LGA. The control group consisted of 100 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) newborns. Capillary blood glucose was measured at the second hour of life. Glucose values lower than 40 mg/dL (2.2 mmol/L) were defined as hypoglycemia. Ninety-six (1.8%) of the 5229 infants were found to be LGA. The mean capillary glucose levels of the LGA newborns were significantly lower than those of the AGA newborns (54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) vs. 95 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L), p