One of the many health risks a woman faces during pregnancy is the possibility of developing gestational diabetes. This is a condition that usually develops (in about 4% of all pregnant women in the US) after the first trimester of pregnancy in which the mother's glucose level becomes elevated and other symptoms of diabetes can appear. Gestational diabetes happens only during pregnancy and symptoms go away after the baby is delivered.
- The hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy can block the effect of the mother's normally produced insulin.
- This increases the levels of blood sugars in her system.
- As the pregnancy progresses, the size of the placenta increases and more insulin blocking hormones are produced.
- When the mother's pancreas can't produce enough insult to overcome the insulin resistance of these pregnancy hormones, she develops gestational diabetes
Affects on The Unborn Baby
The unborn baby does not develop diabetes along with its mother, although it does get all of its nutrition from her blood sugars. The two most common side effects of gestational diabetes on the baby are macrosomia and hypoglycemia.
- Macrosomia is when the fetus grows much larger than normal because the higher levels of blood sugar in its body cause the baby to increase insulin production, which then converts the excess sugar not needed for normal growth and development to body fat.
- When the baby grows too large, vaginal delivery can produce increased risks and injury to both the mother and the baby.
- The baby's size is usually carefully monitored before birth to determine if birth by Cesarean section is called for to avoid the likelihood of a serious obstetrical complication that can occur during birth when a too large baby is delivered vaginally and the head is delivered but the shoulders are too large.
Hypoglycemia is the other common side effect on the newborn when the mother has gestational diabetes. The baby will continue to produce large amounts of insulin for a period of time after birth, although the baby is no longer receiving high blood sugars from its mother. This causes blood sugar levels to plummet, and needs to be carefully monitored.
- Newborns can become jittery, or suffer breathing problems with hypoglycemia
- More frequent feedings or intravenous glucose may be needed as blood sugars adjust
More Rarely
Pregnant women with undiagnosed gestational diabetes or who had either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes prior to their pregnancy are at a higher risk of stillbirths. Birth defects are generally not commonly associated with gestational diabetes because the high blood sugar does not occur until after the all important first trimester is over.
Get Legal Help
If you are pregnant, or have recently had a baby and you believe your gestational diabetes or even pre-gestational diabetes was not handled correctly and you or your baby suffered hard because of this, contact a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your concerns and legal options.
