NEONATAL NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CARE IN INFANTS BORN TO MOTHERS WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES: CLINICAL TREATMENT GUIDELINES

Abstract

Neonatal neurodevelopmental care is crucial for infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes, a condition that can affect the newborn's brain and motor development. Gestational diabetes is a complication of pregnancy that increases the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular alterations in the infant, negatively influencing neurodevelopment. Infants exposed to high levels of intrauterine glucose may face neurological difficulties, requiring specialized monitoring to mitigate potential deficits in cognitive and motor development. Objective: To systematically review the literature on clinical guidelines for neonatal neurodevelopmental care in infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes, focusing on strategies to optimize the monitoring and treatment of these newborns. Methodology: A systematic review was performed using the PRISMA checklist to ensure the quality of the analysis. The search was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO and Web of Science databases. A combination of five descriptors was used: "neonatal neurodevelopment", "gestational diabetes", "neonatal care", "neonatal complications" and "early intervention". Studies published in the last 10 years that addressed treatment and care guidelines for newborns with a history of exposure to gestational diabetes were included. Inclusion criteria were: peer-reviewed articles, studies focused on neonatal care for infants exposed to gestational diabetes and publications from relevant journals. Exclusion criteria were: studies that did not specifically address gestational diabetes, articles outside the scope of neonatology and research prior to 2014. Results: The review revealed that neonatal neurodevelopmental care for infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes should include close monitoring of neurological functions, early interventions to support motor and cognitive development and the implementation of multidisciplinary follow-up programs. The main topics identified were the importance of early detection of neurological problems, the need for early intervention strategies and the crucial role of continuous monitoring to minimize the adverse effects of gestational diabetes on neurodevelopment. Conclusion: Neonatal neurodevelopmental care for infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes should be guided by specific guidelines that ensure early monitoring and intervention. Implementing these guidelines can significantly improve the neurological and motor prognosis of these infants, highlighting the need for a coordinated and well-structured approach to the management of these cases.