Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects some women during their pregnancy. It occurs when a woman who has never had diabetes develops high levels of blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, about four percent of all...
Some babies develop shaking and tremors shortly after birth. These symptoms are not normal and indicate a prenatal problem with the mother’s health or use of prescription or illicit substances. To give the baby the best chance at developing...
A baby who is struggling for breath shortly after birth may present with persistent blue color around the mouth and nose, flaring nostrils, grunting noises and chest retractions, clear signs of labored breathing. Rapid, shallow respirations and...
Hypoglycemia---blood sugar (blood glucose) less than 30 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) in the first 24 hours of life---occurs most frequently in newborn infants of diabetic mothers, babies who are small for gestational age (SGA) and premature...
Calcium is an important mineral for many of the body's functions. It is particularly important for the well functioning of muscles, the nervous system, and the heart. The majority of calcium in the body is stored in the bones. Usually, babies...
Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. If managed carefully during pregnancy, diabetes has no long-term effects on the fetus. However, if gestational diabetes is left untreated, moderate to severe fetal effects can...
More diabetics are able to successfully carry pregnancies to term today, due to improved treatment of blood sugar before and during pregnancy. Yet some complications are still common in diabetic deliveries. Diabetic mothers need close attention...
Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, provides energy and helps to maintain neurological functions. When a baby eats, the food is digested and broken down into useful components. Among these are glucose particles, which enter the bloodstream...
Abnormal sodium levels in newborns can indicate an underlying medical condition. Infants who are sick or who display poor growth are at increased risk for sodium imbalance, according to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Sodium balance is...
A seizure is when an electrical storm or misfiring occurs in your brain. Seizures happen for a number of reasons, including low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. The drug Dilantin raises blood glucose, and can be used to treat a seizure in the...
Diabetes that begins during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. This condition affects 5 to 9 percent of all pregnancies in the United States, and it is becoming more common, according to a July 2009 article in "American Family Physician."...
Cod liver oil, a fish oil available as supplements or a liquid, contains omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids benefit health in several ways, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These essential fats, found in fish as well...
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, is not uncommon in newborns, affecting 2 out of 1,000 babies, the Medical University of South Carolina reports. Many newborns have transient hypoglycemia after birth. There are many causes of neonatal...
Women who have diabetes have more complicated pregnancies than women who don't, and their babies are prone to problems after birth. Diabetes in pregnancy can be one of three types: insulin-dependent or Type 1 diabetes before pregnancy; Type 2...
Diabetes is a medical condition that leads to the presence of abnormally high amounts of glucose in the bloodstream, when not adequately controlled. People with diabetes fail to produce enough insulin to break down blood sugar, and/or their bodies...
Infant heart problems, often presenting as congenital heart defects, are anatomical abnormalities caused by the defective growth of the heart during fetal development. Septal defects, misplacement of the major vessels, single ventricles and...
