Healthy Pregnancy and Labor for Women with Diabetes

Women who suffer from diabetes but are also pregnant are at a higher risk of possible complications during pregnancy and childbirth. However, the most important thing is maintaining normal or as close as possible to normal levels of glucose in the blood. Once you decide to get pregnant you should take a good care of yourself, your overall health and monitor closely the levels of glucose in your blood. Talking to your health care provider in NYC about the medications that you are taking before even getting pregnant is also an important thing as most of these medications are not safe during healthy pregnancy. The safest and most recommended medication for diabetic but also pregnant women is insulin. If you have already been taking insulin as a medication you will probably need to adjust the amount and its frequency, while if you have been on oral medications, you will probably need to switch to insulin. However, there is no need for worrying as diabetic women have given birth to perfectly healthy children.

A Guide to Healthy Pregnancy With Diabetes

Before determining how you will deliver your baby, your health care provider will closely monitor your health and your baby’s and the state of your healthy pregnancy. There is always the possibility of induced labor before the due date, when this is needed. Diabetic pregnancies are considered as high risk pregnancies so complications for your own health or the health of your baby are always an option. Your doctor will decide what type of delivery is best for you based on your overall health, the levels of glucose in the blood, the blood pressure levels, the amount of amniotic fluid, the maturity of your baby, baby’s heart rates, baby’s movements as well as its position and size. Diabetic women are more likely to have larger babies, which sometimes can’t be delivered vaginally (Read also: Pregnancy Weight Gain).

Precautions To Take When Pregnant With Diabetes

Once you and your doctor decide what is your best option keeping controlled glucose levels, during healthy pregnancy and labor is very important. Controlled glucose levels help ensure, that the baby won’t have low levels of glucose immediately after birth. Glucose levels should be checked frequently during labor and delivery. Some women require the intake of insulin and glucose as well as intravenous fluids during the delivery. Insulin pumps are also recommended, so if you are using one, you can continue to use it even throughout labor and delivery.

No matter how you decide to deliver your baby, usually there is nothing to panic. Frequent glucose measurements during this period will make sure that both you and your baby are safe. Many women have vaginal birth without complications.

Low Blood Pressure After Delivery

After healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery, the newborn is at an increased risk of hypoglycemia. This is because the baby has been in an environment with increased levels of glucose during the time inside of the uterus. Usually, this condition will go away after a couple of days. However, sometimes if left untreated it can lead to seizures. Jaundice is also more common among babies born from diabetic mothers. The health of your baby will be probably closely monitored during the first week.

While the levels of glucose stabilize and return to normal quickly after the delivery, it is very important to frequently measure its levels. Women who are breastfeeding should pay attention to their glucose levels, as they have an increased tendency for hypoglycemia.

Dr. Dmitriy Bronfman, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with over 25 years of experience providing complete gynecological care. He is an expert in many aspects of modern women's health, including preventative medicine, pelvic pain, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and general, adolescent, and menopausal gynecology.

Dr. Bronfman graduated magna cum laude from New York University and received his medical degree from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine before completing his residency at Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center. He currently practices at Professional Gynecological Services and is affiliated with Lutheran Medical Center, New York Methodist Hospital, and The Brooklyn Hospital Center. Dr. Bronfman, together with the core physicians of Professional Gynecological Services, implements state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, the most tested treatments, and the latest surgical technology, all while establishing a welcoming atmosphere in which your questions and concerns will be addressed with the utmost attention.

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