The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

How Does Gestational Diabetes Affect Mother and Baby?

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Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and affects about 200,000 pregnancies each year in the U.S. If you’ve ever been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, here’s what that means for you and your baby . . .

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, bringing you Healthy Moments from the NIH. I’m the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

If gestational diabetes is left uncontrolled, your baby can have problems breathing, or be born very large, which can make delivery more difficult and dangerous.

For mom, it can increase your risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy, and the need for a c-section.

While gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, both mother and child are at increased risk for developing diabetes later in life.

And for more information, visit our website, yourdiabetesinfo.org, or MyMajicDC.com .  This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers. Join me next week for more “Healthy Moments.”