Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. The condition causes blood sugar to rise to abnormally high levels, putting both mother and baby at risk of potentially serious side effects. Many of the problems associated with gestational diabetes resolve after delivery; however, the condition can cause complications during delivery and, in some cases, may lead to long-term effects.
Macrosomia
Gestational diabetes can cause there to be too much sugar in the baby's bloodstream, forcing the unborn infant's pancreas to produce extra insulin to process the sugar. This can cause the baby to put on extra weight, leading to a condition called macrosomia. Macrosomic babies can cause problems during delivery because of their size. In cases where the baby is too large to enter the birth canal, a caesarian section delivery may become necessary. Sometimes, the infant's head will enter the canal but his shoulders will be too large, causing him to get stuck. This situation (called dystocia) can necessitate the use of special procedures to deliver the baby. These procedures can cause nerve damage, fractured bones or, rarely, brain damage to the child. The challenges of delivering a macrosomic baby can also lead to vaginal injuries and an unusually large episiotomy for the mother.
Pre-Eclampsia
According to the Baby Center, women with gestational diabetes are about twice as likely to develop pre-eclampsia---a condition in which a women develops high blood pressure and protein in her urine. The condition causes blood vessels to restrict and reduces blood flow to vital organs, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both mother and baby. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby.
Post-Delivery Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, babies of mothers with gestational diabetes may develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) immediately after birth. This occurs because the baby's body is still producing extra insulin to process the extra sugar that was in his blood in utero. In severe cases, hypoglycemia can require intravenous glucose administration or can cause seizures. Feeding the baby right away with formula or through breastfeeding usually returns the infant's blood sugar levels to normal.
After delivery, some babies may develop polycythemia (an increase in the number of red blood cells), hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or jaundice (a liver condition that causes a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), according to the Baby Center. These conditions may resolve on their own, but careful observation is necessary.
Babies born to women with gestational diabetes are more likely to have breathing problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Those that are delivered early may develop respiratory distress syndrome (a condition that makes breathing difficult) and require medical assistance with breathing until their lungs improve.
According to the Baby Center, some research shows a higher risk of stillbirths in the last two months of pregnancy among women with gestational diabetes.
Possible Long-Term Side Effects
Gestational diabetes may have long-term effects on infants. Babies may be more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life, according to the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, they may be at risk of attention and hyperactivity problems, as well as impaired or delayed motor development, including walking, jumping, balance and coordination.
