Gestational Diabetes Can Lead to Birth Injuries and Cerebral Palsy

Gestational Diabetes is a complication during pregnancy where the blood sugar levels in the mother are too high. It is one of the most common pregnancy complications, affecting 2-5% of all pregnant women. Usually, it is diagnosed between the 24^th and 28^th week of gestation after a mother takes a glucose tolerance test. Because many pregnant women do not show any obvious signs of gestational diabetes, an OB/GYN administers the oral glucose tolerance test so gestational diabetes can be diagnosed and treated right away.

Early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes is critical to the health and well being of the mother and baby. If early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes is not done, it can lead to a very large or macrosomic baby that can increase the risk of having a birth related injury such as hypoxia, brain ischemia, brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy or shoulder dystocia and cerebral palsy. It is recommended that expecting mothers with gestational diabetes be closely monitored and treated with diet, oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin. If it is determined that the baby is too large, it is recommended that a C-section be performed to prevent potential birth complications.

The prenatal period is not the only time when an infant of a gestational diabetic mother may have complications. Many times, infants of diabetic mothers may have difficulty controlling their blood sugar shortly after birth. If a low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in a newborn is not diagnosed and treated right away, it could lead to permanent brain damage in the infant.

Since 1958, the Beasley medical malpractice law firm has been awarded over $2 billion on behalf of our injured clients. If you had gestational diabetes and delivered a large baby that developed complications during birth, please feel free to contact one of our experienced lawyers, physicians or labor and delivery nurses for a strictly confidential and free consultation.