Diabetic women carry about three or four times as much risk for single birth defects. They have about eight times as much risk for multiple birth defects, according to studies.
Women with gestational diabetes carry a higher risk for birth defects as well, but generally only if they have a body mass index of 25 or above. This BMI would put them in the overweight or obese category.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes?
As the name indicates, this type of diabetes develops after a woman becomes pregnant. It impacts how her body processes sugar. The result is higher than normal blood sugar, which can cause complications with the pregnancy and issues with the baby’s health.
Proper care can control gestational diabetes, and the condition usually goes away after the baby is born. However, it’s important to note that women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
A Major Study
A study was done for babies born between 1197 and 2003. Almost 5000 infants were born with no defects while another 13,000 did have birth defects. Researchers looked at the mother’s health and whether she had type 1 or type 2 diabetes and if it was a condition prior to pregnancy or developed during the pregnancy. Other information was gathered as well.
What researchers found was quite interesting and important to expectant mothers. A wide range of birth defects were associated with mothers who had developed diabetes before becoming pregnant. Only a limited number of defects were linked to gestational diabetes. Common defects associated with diabetes in the mothers include the following:
- Brain defects
- Heart problems
- Cleft palates and lips
- Deformed limbs
- Issues with kidneys
- Spinal defects
- Issues with gastrointestinal tracts
Giving a Baby the Best Chance
While odds for a diabetic mother to have a baby with a birth defect are greater than for a woman without diabetes, it’s not inevitable. Medical professionals say that planning ahead is the key. They recommend that any woman who wants to get pregnant and has been diagnosed with diabetes make sure her condition is under control. Spikes in blood sugar are linked to the same problem in the unborn baby, which can lead to developmental issues.
A woman who gets regular exercise, maintains a healthy weight or loses weight before becoming pregnant and eats healthy can have a healthy baby. It’s also important to get regular prenatal care and to keep seeing the diabetes specialist.
Gestational diabetes is still a serious condition that can be managed for a healthy mother and baby. Even though it’s not responsible for most birth defects, you should not ignore it for a successful pregnancy.
