person with diabetes and the educator (Mensing, 2007) diabetes needs the knowledge and skills to make informed choices, to facilitate …
Will gestational diabetes hurt my baby?
Most women who have gestational diabetes give birth to healthy babies, especially when they keep their blood sugar under control, eat a healthy diet, get regular, moderate physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight In some cases, though, the condition can affect the pregnancy Keeping glucose levels under control may prevent certain problems related to gestational diabetes Below are some conditions that can result from your having gestational diabetes Keep in mind that just because you have gestational diabetes does n o t mean that these problems will occur Ma c ro s o m i a pronounced mak-row-SOHM-ee-uh–Babys body is larger than normal Large-bodied babies sometimes get injured by natural delivery through the vagina; the baby may need to be delivered through cesarean section The most common complication for these babies is shoulder dystocia pronounced dis-TOE-shee-uh Hy pog lyce m i a pronounced high-po-gl-eye-SEEM-ee-uh–Babys blood sugar is too low You may need to start breastfeeding right away to get more glucose into the babys system If its not possible for you to start feedings, the baby may need to get glucose through a thin,
plastic tube in his or her arm that puts glucose directly into the blood Ja u n d i ce pronounced JAWN-diss–Babys skin turns yellowish; white parts of the eyes may also change color slightly If treated, jaundice is not a serious problem for the baby Re s p i rato r y D i s t ress Sy n d ro me RD S–Baby has trouble breathing The baby might need oxygen or other help breathing if he or she has RDS Low Cal ciu m an d Mag n esiu m Level s in t he Ba by s Bl o o d–Baby could develop a condition that causes spasms in the hands and feet, or twitching or cramping muscles This condition can be treated with calcium and magnesium supplements
w i l l ge s t a t io n al diab ete s h urt my b a b y ?
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Could gestational diabetes hurt my baby in other ways?
Gestational diabetes usually does not cause birth defects or deformities Most developmental or physical defects happen during the first trimester of pregnancy, between the 1st and 8th week Gestational diabetes typically d evelops around or after the 24th week of pregnancy Women with gestational d i a be tes usually have normal blood sugar levels during the first tri m e s ter, which a l l ow the body and body sys tems of the fetus to
develop norm a l ly s The fact that you have gestational diabetes will not cause diabetes in your baby But, your child is at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life As your child grows, things like eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular, moderate physical activity may help to reduce that risk If your baby was macrosomic, or large-bodied at birth, then he or she is at higher risk for childhood and adult obesity being extremely overweight Large-bodied babies are also at greater risk for getting type 2 diabetes and often get it at an earlier age younger than 30
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w i l l g e s t a t ion al di abe tes hurt my ba b y ?
Will gestational diabetes affect my labor or delivery?
Most women with gestational diabetes can make it to their due dates safely and begin labor naturally In some cases, though, gestational diabetes could cha 
nge the way you feel or how your baby is delivered Again, keep in mind that just because you have gestational diabetes does not mean that you will have any change in delivery Tal k t o yo ur h ealt h ca re prov id er ab o u t A NY co n c e r ns yo u have ab o ut l abo r or d eli ve r y If you have gestational
diabetes, there are some things you should keep in mind about delivery: Bl o o d Sug ar an d In su li n Ba l a n ce–Keeping your blood sugar level under control during labor and delivery is vital to your own health and to your babys health If you do not take insulin during your pregnancy, you probably wont need it during labor or delivery If you do take insulin during your pregnancy, you may receive an insulin shot when labor begins, or you may get insulin through a thin, plastic tube in your arm that goes into your bloodstream during labor Ea r ly De l i ve r y –Gestational diabetes puts women at higher risk than women without the condition for developing preeclampsia pronounced pree-ee-KLAMP-see-uh, late in their pregnancies Preeclampsia is a condition related to a sudden blood pressure increase; it can be a serious For more information on preeclampsia, go to the Your health care provider
might also tell you to: Have your blood pressure checked as indicated section of
this booklet The only way to cure preeclampsia is to deliver the baby; but delivery may not be the best option for your health or for the health of the baby Your health care provider will keep you under close
watch, possibly at the hospital, and will run multiple tests to determine whether early delivery is safe and needed Your health care provider will give you more information about early delivery, should it be necessary Ce s a rean De l i ve ry–This is a type of surgery used to deliver the baby, instead of natural delivery through the vagina Cesarean delivery is also called a cesarean section, or C section Simply having gestational diabetes is not a reason to have a C section, but your health care provider may have other reasons for choosing a cesarean delivery, such as changes in your health or your babys health during labor
wi ll ge s t a tional diabetes affe ct my labor or del ivery ?
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Will I have diabetes after I have my baby?
Once you have the baby, your body should be able to use its insulin more effectively Shortly after the baby is born, the placenta is delivered This is sometimes called the afterbirth Because the placenta causes insulin resistance, when its gone, gestational diabetes usually goes away, too If you have gestational diabe te s, you are at higher- t h a n - n o rmal risk for developing ty pe 2 diabe tes later in your life Ty pe 2 diabe te s, like
gestational d i a be te s, occurs when the body doe s nt use its insulin pro pe rly Keeping yo u r we i g ht within a healthy range and keeping up regular, moderate phys i ca l a ct i v i ty after your baby is bo rn can help lower your risk for ty pe 2 diabe te s Fo l l ow a healthy diet and phys i cal act i v i ty prog ram, m a i ntaining a healthy ing we i g ht, or taking ce rtain medicines can help people co nt rol ty pe 2 diabe te s
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w i l l I have dia be tes afte r I have my b a b y ?
Source:diabetes.ca
