Metabolic emergencies in pregnancy.

In pregnancy, women are more likely to develop certain metabolic disturbances as a result of the physiological changes that occur. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycaemia occur at increased frequency in women with pre-existing and gestational diabetes, and starvation ketoacidosis can present towards the end of pregnancy and can cause severe illness. Peripartum hyponatraemia is increasingly recognised and can be associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity. This review describes these conditions in detail as well as treatment priorities and the impact on both mother and baby.