Question Why do babies tend to get so big in moms who have gestational diabetes ? What causes this and is it harmful to baby.
AnswerBabies of diabetic mothers are large in size from an over-stimulation of pituitary growth hormone and extra fat deposits due to high levels of glucose during pregnancy.
These babies being big is deceptive. You would think by looking at them that they are healthy, but they in fact are usually immature. Most are born early and the lungs may be very immature. Plus, high insulin secretion by the baby during pregnancy to counteract high glucose levels plays a role in lung maturity.
Babies born to diabetic moms can get a condition called polycythemia, which is a blood disorder. Doctors will clamp the cord early at delivery to prevent this from occurring. These babies also tend to lose weight fairly rapidly right after birth because of the loss of extra fluid accumulation. They have to be watched closely to make sure that they aren't becoming dehydrated.
They are also watched for hypoglycemia (LOW blood sugar) right after birth. This can be very dangerous and happens because the baby no longer has the mother's supply of circulation, yet there remains an over-production of insulin. This is a big concern for the first 6-8 hours and is a possibility for 24 hours, so these babies are observed for hypoglycemia closely.
Gestational diabetes is a condition that must be monitored closely. The more controlled the diabetes is during pregnancy, the better it is for the infant and mother. These potential complications are minimized when diabetes is well controlled.
I hope this has answered your question and I wish you and your family a happy Christmas season.
Brenda
