complication for foetus and baby
1.Birth defects
- Especially in IDDM-2-6 times greater risk
- My cause foetal death
- Origionate in first trimester, especially if ther have been fluctuations in glucose at that time
- heart and connecting blood vessels
- brain and spine abnormalities
- urinary and kidney
- digestive tract
- Exact reason unknown
- Foetus may grow slowly due to poor circulation or high blood pressure
- Higher risk if uncontrolled glucose or blood vessel damage
- If mother has high blood glucose levels, the placenta produces more insulin to allow the fetus to use this glucose and convert it to fat , resulting in high birth-weight
4. Birth injury
- May occur due to the baby's large size and difficulty being born
- low blood sugar in baby direct after birth,because if mother's blood glucose has been high , the foetus' circulating insulin is also high.
- After birth , the supply of glucose is no longer available but the baby;s circulating insulin is still high leading to hypoglycemia
- Needs immediate checking and IV glucose
6. Respiratory distress
- Too much insulin or too much glucose in a baby's system my delay lung maturation and cause respiratory difficulties in babies .
References
- Training Module on Nutritional Counselling for Pregnant Women in Tanzania
- Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: A Training Manual for Nurses and Midwives
