Pregnancy

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy resulting from altered glucose tolerance due to β-cell dysfunction and may lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. This study was aimed at counselling pregnant women with GDM about life-style changes and monitoring their feto-maternal outcomes. This was a prospective observational study carried out in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. A total of 41 pregnant women attending the study site for antenatal care and had developed GDM from their first trimester were included in the study. Of all the subjects, 63.41% belonged to 26-35 years; 63.41% of pregnant women had parity in the range of 2-5 and 92.68% belonged to the middle and upper socio-economic class of Kuppuswamy scale. About 35 (85.36%) subjects had a new onset of GDM. While the treatment for GDM mainly included oral metformin alone as therapy (26, 63.41%). Lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), preterm births, low birth weight (LBW) and NICU admission were the adverse perinatal outcomes observed. The study concluded that socio-economic status of pregnant women may be a risk factor for GDM and that health education regarding life-style changes (diet and physical activity) for the pregnant women may aid in attaining improved pregnancy outcomes.

Most of pregnant women take prescription or non-prescription drugs during pregnancy. In general, unless absolutely necessary, drugs should not be used during pregnancy because it can affect the fetus .The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns of drug prescriptions to pregnant women in tertiary care hospital. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care hospital of Medchal, Hyderabad. Prescriptions given to outpatients and inpatients pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics were collected. A simple questionnaire was used to gather information. The drugs were classified according to the pharmacological class and their teratogenic potential. The most frequently prescribed drugs were oral iron, folic acid preparations, antacids, antibacterials and analgesics. Majority were in accordance with WHO criteria for rational use of drugs except for prescription by generic names. Average number of drugs per encounter was 3.5, most common route of administration was oral. Most commonly used drugs were iron, folic acid. Most common antibiotic prescribed was amoxicillin. Most common condition for which drugs were prescribed was cough, backache and fever. All the prescribed drugs were available in hospital pharmacy in sufficient quantities.