If you have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes…what will happen when your baby is born?

There are two kinds of Gestational Diabetes: Diet controlled and insulin requiring. The management of your baby will depend on which type of diabetes you have. Babies born to mothers with Gestational Diabetes are at risk of low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia). This is due to the imbalance of glucose levels and insulin production in the baby. After birth, low blood sugars are most likely to occur within the first 12 hours, but may present for up to 48 hours. It is very important that low blood sugars are detected and treated early. As your baby will be admitted in the Special Care Nursery after birth, it would be a good idea to have a tour of the nursery after one of your antenatal appointments. Your baby may require extra feeds of expressed breast milk or formula. It is possible to express and store breast milk during your pregnancy. Please discuss this with a midwife at your antenatal visit.

Gestational Diabetes - (Diet Controlled):

If you have controlled your diabetes during the pregnancy by means of diet alone, your baby has a lower risk of low blood sugars; however, there is still a chance that this may occur. We encourage an early feed, within an hour of birth and also blood sugar monitoring for 24 hours. Each blood sugar reading will ascertain whether your baby requires extra feeds of expressed breast milk or formula.Your baby does not generally need to stay in the Special Care Nursery unless there has been a low blood sugar recorded.

Gestational Diabetes - (Insulin Requiring):

If you have been taking insulin throughout your pregnancy, your baby will be admitted into the Special Care Nursery. Babies born to mothers on insulin have a much greater risk of low blood sugars. Babies are generally admitted into the nursery for at least 48 hours.

During this time, your baby's blood sugars will be monitored by blood tests. Babies are bled by a small heel prick and only a small amount of blood is required to test. This is initially done within the first hour of life and before each feed; usually 2- 4 hours apart.

You are encouraged to feed your baby, however during this initial time, your baby will be given extra feeds of either expressed breast milk or formula. This is to assist in maintaining an adequate blood sugar level.

Special Care Nursery:

Whilst your baby is admitted to the nursery, you are encouraged to feed and attend to the care of your baby as much as possible. You are welcome 24 hours a day and you are invited to stay as long as you wish.

Ros Lowden, Rose Dosser
Unit Managers SCN Birralee