Gestational Diabetes
What does gestational diabetes mean for you and your baby?
Since gestational diabetes occurs later in the pregnancy–usually in the third trimester, the primary impact is over-nutrition to the baby resulting in excessive birth weight. This can cause risks to both mom and baby during delivery through excess trauma and a higher rate of a cesarean section.
After birth, the risks to your baby include low blood sugar and excess levels of insulin, along with an increased risk of jaundice. There is also the potential for long-term glucose intolerance and obesity. “In utero programming has a very strong relation to increased fat cell production resulting in obesity in the teen years and later in life,” says Feig. The results of gestational diabetes may not start to show until your child reaches 10, 15 or even 20 years of age.
