Diabetic Source.Org

If gestational diabetes is not tested for or ignored it can have few adverse effects on your newborn baby.

Macrosomia

Macrosomia occurs when your baby weighs more than 8.8 pounds.  This excessive weight gain is caused by the mother passing too much sugar to the baby and the baby inturn converting this sugar to fat.   Macrosomia can cause premature birth or forced cesarean delivery.

Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Neonatal hypoglycemia occurs when the baby is born with low levels of sugar for the first few hours of life.  After delivery the baby is no longer receiving all that extra sugar from the mother, however the baby is still producing extra insulin for a few hours (or even a few days) causing “below normal” levels of blood sugar.  Babies born with neonatal hypoglycemia exhibit shakes, fussiness and even respiration distress.  All of these effects usually subside in a few hours once the baby’s pancrease begins to normalize.

The usual signs of gestational diabetes are continuous bouts of unquenchable thirst, increased urination, blurred vision and rapid weight gain.  Most of these gestational diabetes symptoms can easily be confused for normal symptoms of pregnancy, so it’s important that you request a gestational diabetes test from your doctor when you enter your 3rd trimester.  If any of the symptoms mentioned above occur earlier (as in the first or second trimester) please consult your doctor right away!