No abstract

Parturients during normal labour were given glucose. The maternal-fetal difference of glucose increased with increasing maternal glucose level. Glucose load caused a rapid early response of maternal insulin release. A parallel rise in plasma lactate and pyruvate occurred in both fetus and mother. The basal maternal hydroxybutyrate and glycerol concentrations decreased significantly during glucose load. The study demonstrated that at term, components of lipid metabolism in fetal and maternal plasma – in contrast to glucose – vary independently. No major disturbances of the fetal acid-base balance were found.

No abstract