Nursing Student looking for advice from OB or L&D nurses

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I am a nursing student investigating the relationship between gestational diabetes and the weight of the baby at birth. I have found conflicting reports where some research states there is a positive relationship and some research says there is no relationship. I was wondering if nurses could comment on this topic. It is part of my research assignment to get input from nurses in practice. I would greatly appreciate any and all advice/comments!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good luck!

You should try posting your question on the OB board. There are lots of OB/L&D nurses there. This board is for introductions only and you might not get any answers.

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I moved your post to the OB Forum for more reponses. Good luck!

Suebird :p

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

There is a definate correlation and it has everything to do with physiology.

In pregnancy, any pregnancy, the baby is directly affected by mom's health, intake and insulin levels (as well as blood sugar levels). A well-controlled diabetic will not always have a macrosomic baby, but one whose sugars are very high, whose A1C levels, exceed 7, will tend to have a LGA (large for gestational age) kiddo. Reasons are simple. The baby's continually getting "fed" all this sugar and has nothing much to do but grow....and so it does.

The danger comes in after birth, when the kid's pancreas is still in "mass overdrive" due to being used to high blood sugars and trying to control them in his or her own body. In that first 24-48 hours after birth, we have to watch the baby's glucose levels very closely, as they can (and often do) drop precipitously. Even babies who are are not LGA may have serious blood glucose issues/complications.

But yes, there is a definate relationship between diabetic moms and exceptionally large babies-----many diabetics do have macrosomic babies that need close monitoring the first 24-48 hours (or more if complicated) of extrauterine life.

If you have more questions, just ask. Will try to help. Hope this helps.

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Thanks SmilinBluEyes! I really appreciate your input! Thank you!!!:lol2:

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I had gestational diabetes and delivered my son at 37 weeks. I was carefully monitered but did end up having an emergency c section. He weighted 6 lbs, 6 ounces. I had 2 babies after him and did not have gestational diabetes again (I feared that I would). My 3rd baby was also an emergency c section, but that was because they had trouble with his heart rate (all turned out fine).

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

The one (thankfully rare) exception to this scenario is a mom who has long-standing, poorly controlled diabetes and is suffering from poor circulation as a result. In this case, the blood flow to her pelvis (and to the baby) can be severely restricted, resulting in a SGA baby, even in the presence of high maternal blood sugars during pregnancy.

I've only seen this once, and it was quite a shock to see a skinny, scrawny wasted-looking newborn delivered to a diabetic mom. Mom also had circulation problems to her feet and legs. I hope she remained healthy enough to raise her child. It was a reallity check to see what diabetes can do to a relatively young person.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Yes, when diabetes is severe enough, particularly to affect vascular systems in mom, you can and will see IUGR in these cases. VERY sad and scary. Also, thankfully, relatively rare.

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