Though gestational diabetes, or diabetes during pregnancy, generally goes away shortly after delivery, if it is not diagnosed, or you don’t manage it properly, the wellbeing of you and your baby are at risk to various wellness complications.
Your baby could develop hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar, as he will be exposed to high levels of blood sugar during his development, if you have gestational diabetes. His body compensates by producing more insulin, a blood-sugar-regulating hormone that sometimes works to drive blood sugar levels down. When your baby is born and your source of blood sugar is gone, he will then be producing too much insulin and his blood sugar level will go from too high (hyperglycaemia) to too low (hypoglycaemia), which may require an infusion of glucose after delivery.
Also your gestational diabetes can cause your baby to grow so big that it makes vaginal delivery too difficult. Your baby could also become jaundiced or have low calcium and magnesium levels, which leads to muscle spasms, twitches, or cramps in their hands and feet. Finally, your gestational diabetes could cause your baby to have breathing problems, if he is delivered early due to complications from your disease. This means he might need oxygen or other types of help.
When it comes to your wellness, your gestational diabetes could progress to type 2 diabetes after delivery, and as this is a common occurrence it is important that you have your blood sugar levels checked by your health care provider, stay active, and watch your weight. You could also develop preeclampsia, which is a potentially serious condition that might mean having to deliver early. As this could put your baby at risk, you’ll have to discuss your individual case with your health care team. Also, as your condition could lead to problems with vaginal delivery, you may have to have a C-section. Finally, it is not only your physical wellness that is affected by gestational diabetes, but the disease also puts you at a higher risk of postpartum depression.
However, though these seem like scary eventualities, many women with gestational diabetes have uneventful pregnancies and deliveries, with healthy babies and the resolution of their gestational diabetes as a result. The key is to stay on top of things and work with your health care team, and this will help you make sure that both you and your little one are as healthy as possible.
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