Blood glucose levels and hypoglycaemia in full term neonates during the first 48 hours of life.

Thirty-five full term infants (38-41 weeks' gestation) were included in the study. Infants of mothers with complications of pregnancy, such as toxaemia, anaemia, diabetes, or hypertension were not included. All infants were fed during the first 3 hours of life and this was continued every 4 hours. Maternal glucose estimation was carried out 15 or 30 min before or at the time of birth. Glucose levels were measured in all 35 newborns at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hour, and 14, 24, 36, and 48 hours before feeding. Serum glucose levels were measured using a Reflectron Glucose Analyser. The lowest blood glucose level was seen in the first 3 hours of life. In the first 3 hours of life there were 12 infants with glucose levels less than 30 mg/dl, but in only three of those did the hypoglycaemic level continue and require treatment (9 per cent). We concluded that hypoglycaemia which is seen in the first 3 hours can be physiological and early feeding appears to influence subsequent glucose values.