Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment

As pancreas size is thought to reflect pancreatic insulin production and/or islet mass, monitoring pancreas size during and after pregnancy may advance the investigators' understanding of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) incidence and progression. Information on pancreas size changes during pregnancy, typical fetal pancreatic development, the relationship between pancreas size and GDM risk, and the relationship between pancreas size and neonatal hypoglycemia are largely unknown. Through this project, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to measure changes in pancreas size during pregnancy and the effect of maternal diabetes on these measures.

This prospective cohort study is observational and will include up to 87 pregnant women who are between 18-54 years old. Study visits will take place at approximately 15-18 weeks gestation, 24-28 weeks gestation, 34-38 weeks gestation, and 1 year-1 year and 2 months postpartum. At each study visit, participants will self-report their height and weight, have their blood pressure measured, have their blood drawn, have an HbA1c finger stick test, participate in oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), complete an MRI scan, and undergo continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant women, with a singleton gestation
• Age 18 - 54 years at screening
• Gestational age < 14 weeks
• Willing to commit to 1 year postpartum follow up
• Planning to remain in geographical vicinity of Austin for 1 year after delivery

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of any mechanically or magnetically activated implants
• Claustrophobia
• Other contraindication for MRI
• BMI ≥ 38.0 or maximum width less than 48 cm (necessary to fit within the MRI field of view)