Fetal hypotonia and paresis in infantile spinal muscular atrophy increase the risk of traction injuries during delivery but do not affect the duration of pregnancy or labour.
May warrant caution for traction injuries in SMA deliveries; single case leaves open broader effects on labor duration.
Summary: Neuromuscular diseases which affect the fetus form a useful and perhaps exclusive model by which the role of normal fetal muscle tonicity in pregnancy and delivery can be examined. In this context, the pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal sequelae of 76 patients with infantile spinal muscular atrophy have been reviewed. It has been found that normal fetal tone is important in the prevention of traction injuries during delivery. Reduced fetal movements do not influence the duration either of pregnancy or of labour. Weak fetal swallowing, provided even minimum deglutition is present, is sufficient to prevent polyhydramnios at least in the third trimester. Other obstetric and neurological overtones of perinatal hypotonia are discussed.
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John Pearn (1977) studied this question.
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