Gestational diabetes is a complication during pregnancy. It occurs when the mother’s blood sugar levels are revealed to be too high. It’s a very common pregnancy complication. Gestational diabetes affects 2 to 5% of all pregnant women in the United States. Most gestational diabetes conditions are diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of gestation. The condition is diagnosed after the mother takes a glucose tolerance test. The oral glucose tolerance test is revealing inasmuch as most pregnant women show very few outward signs, if any, of gestational diabetes.
With early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes, the health and well-being of the mother and baby is improved. Without early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes, severe health problems to both mother and child are likely. Gestational diabetes can lead to a very large baby that can increase the risk of birth injury, such as hypoxia (shortage of oxygen to the brain), brain ischemia (decreased blood flow to the brain), brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy or shoulder dystocia and cerebral palsy.
Expectant mothers who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes need to be closely monitored and treated. The treatment plan for those diagnosed would include a regimen of oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin. In those cases where the baby is too large for delivery, a C-section would likely be scheduled in order to avoid any potential birth complications.
The prenatal period is not the only time that an infant born of a gestational diabetic mother may develop problems. Often times infants of diabetic mothers have difficulty controlling their own blood sugar after birth. Where a newborn has low blood sugar or hypoglycemia that is not diagnosed and treated, that condition can lead to permanent brain damage to the infant.
For more than 40 years, Kreisman Law Offices has been handling birth injury cases on behalf of those injured. If you or someone you know or love had gestational diabetes and delivered a large baby that had complications during the birthing process, please feel free to call our experienced lawyers at Kreisman Law Offices.
With 40 years of experience in trying and settling birth injury cases, Kreisman Law Offices provides the best possible services to our clients and have achieved unsurpassed results. Our service is unmatched. Please call us 24 hours a day at 312.346.0045 or toll free 800.583.8002 for a free and immediate consultation, or complete a contact form online. There is no charge for a consultation that will include an evaluation of your case.