How gestational diabetes can affect your baby?
Gestational diabetes usually affects the mother later in pregnancy when the baby’s body is already formed, yet while the baby is still growing. As a result gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects that are sometimes seen in babies whose mothers have diabetes before pregnancy. However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can harm your baby. Because your body is not able to process glucose normally, extra glucose is crossing the placenta, giving your baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby’s pancreas to produce extra insulin. Since the developing baby is getting more energy than it needs, the extra energy is stored as fat and can lead to macrosomia or a “fat”— very large baby. They may weigh 10 pounds or more. Babies with macrosomia face health problems including damage to their shoulders at birth which can lead to nerve injury. And because they are making extra insulin, they may have very low levels of blood glucose at birth. In addition they may also be at risk for:
· low blood calcium and magnesium levels,
· too many red blood cells,
· jaundice, and are
· at high risk for breathing problems.1
Signs and symptoms
It’s unusual for women to experience any signs or symptoms with gestational diabetes. When they do occur, symptoms may include:
· More fatigue than would be expected during pregnancy
· Excessive thirst
· Increased urination
Prenatal Tests
To be sure about your health, your doctor may ask you for a urine sample at each prenatal visit. The urine sample is then tested for the presence of glucose.1
Your heath care provider
will likely do a simple test called a glucose screening often given at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, and if the glucose screening test shows a high level, the patient can be given a glucose tolerance test. This test last longer-three hours- requires four blood samples, and is taken on an empty stomach.1
Women with mild gestational diabetes are often able to control their glucose levels with a special diet and exercise. If more control is needed they may have to take insulin and test their glucose level every day.
If you experienced gestational diabetes with your pregnancy, a few months after birth your doctor may give you another glucose tolerance test to confirm whether you still have diabetes.
Summing up
Remember you can take steps now to plan ahead for a healthy pregnancy. If you are overweight before pregnancy, a program of diet and exercise before conception can reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes. If you already have diabetes, try to gain good control of your blood glucose level before becoming pregnant. All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, because about half of all pregnancies are unplanned.5 This may be especially important for women with diabetes.2,5 Visiting your health care provider for a preconception check-up is always a good start for a healthy pregnancy.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.