No two pregnancies are exactly the same, even for the same woman. There are inherent risks involved in carrying a baby to term, as well as in navigating the labor and delivery process. Certain issues, such as gestational diabetes, increase the risk for injury to both mother and child. That is why it is so important for an Oregon obstetrician or midwife to closely monitor every prenatal patient.
Gestational diabetes is typically diagnosed at approximately 24 to 28 weeks in a pregnancy. A mother who is gestationally diabetic is at great risk for high blood pressure, which can be a potentially dangerous condition for pregnant women. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who do not normally have a diabetic condition when they are not pregnant.
Gestational diabetes does not usually present symptoms
A woman’s body provides insulin to her baby in the womb and, in some cases, does not make enough for her own body, in addition to her child. This results in gestational diabetes. The condition is typically diagnosed by a glucose challenge test, which involves drinking a glucose solution, then taking a blood test an hour later.
Monitoring gestational diabetes to keep mom and baby safe
A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes must be closely monitored through regular blood tests, restricted diet and other measures. Failure to diagnose or treat the condition places a mother and her infant at great risk for injury. Babies of gestationally diabetic mothers (especially those whose conditions are not being controlled) are often too large to fit through the birth canal. If a woman or her child suffers injury because of medical negligence associated with gestational diabetes, restitution may be sought by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court.