Learn the risks associated with preexisiting or gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Pregnancy can be a wonderful and exciting time for a woman. It was once a common practice for doctors to discourage women with diabetes from having children because of health risks. Regardless if a mother to be has preexisting diabetes she can expect to deliver a healthy baby. The same is true for a woman who develops gestational diabetes while pregnant. Whether the woman is already diabetic or the diabetes is a result of the pregnancy, the key is to keep blood glucose levels down. Keeping the blood glucose levels down along with good prenatal care and an exercise regime will help give the mother an excellent chance of delivering a healthy baby.
Gestational diabetes differ from type I and type II. Type I and type II diabetes are preexisting conditions that the mother already has before the pregnancy. Gestational diabetes develops around the twenty-eight week of pregnancy. It is unclear what exactly causes gestational diabetes but there are things that can be done to help control it. Preexisting diabetes pose a risk to the baby as it develops physically which can lead to birth defects. Gestational diabetes develops late in the pregnancy and does not pose a risk to the baby’s growth. However, these babies are at risk for developing other health problems such as macrosomia and apnea.
Macrosomia is a condition in which the baby is born larger than most normal sized babies. This condition can cause the delivery to be harder on both mother and child.
Women with diabetes are more prone to having larger babies when blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Macrosomia is caused by the extra sugar in the mother’s system being passed along into the placenta causing the baby to gain more weight. This extra sugar now in the baby’s system can cause the baby’s pancreas to work overtime and produce extra insulin. Once the baby is delivered, it is harder for the baby’s body to stop making extra insulin. The baby’s blood glucose level must now be monitored to ensure the levels do not drop significantly low. Damage to the shoulders of the baby can occur during delivery because of the baby’s size. The baby may also suffer from apnea.
Apnea is also common to babies born to mothers with preexisting or gestational diabetes. It is a condition in which the baby literally stops breathing for a matter of seconds or minutes. Another condition the baby can be born with is jaundice. High levels of bilirubin in the blood can cause jaundice. The skin appears yellowish in color. Jaundice can be treated within days and usually causes no major health problems. Babies born to mothers with preexisting or gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for childhood obesity and developing type II diabetes as adults. It is important for a mother with preexisting or gestational diabetes to keep her blood glucose levels under control to maintain a healthy baby.
For mothers with preexisting diabetes, the best idea is to plan the pregnancy. This will help to ensure the blood glucose levels stay normal leading to a healthy pregnancy. It is best to develop healthy eating habits and a good exercise regime such as walking, simple aerobic routines, and swimming. Taking good care of her body is the best thing a mother can do for her baby. It is also important for a mother to continue to take care of herself after the delivery of her baby as well.
Gestational diabetes for most women goes away after the delivery. However, some women will need to continue treatment for the diabetes after their pregnancy. Many women develop type II diabetes years later. To avoid developing diabetes later in life it is recommended that these women change certain aspects of their life. Losing weight, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet are just some of the things they can do to lower their risks.
Overall, the chances of delivering a healthy baby for a mother with preexisting or gestational diabetes are about the same as a woman without either condition. The amount of care a mother puts into her body while pregnant will help determine how healthy her baby will be. Taking good care of her body while pregnant is taking good care of the baby.
By Makita Johnson
