Pregnancy diabetes complications

Question 1

maternal complications

Answer 1

polyhydramnios

preterm labour

Question 2

neonatal complications

Answer 2

macrosomia (although diabetes may also cause small for gestational age babies)

hypoglycaemia (secondary to beta cell hyperplasia)

respiratory distress syndrome: surfactant production is delayed

polycythaemia: therefore more neonatal jaundice

malformation rates increase 3-4 fold e.g. sacral agenesis, CNS and CVS malformations (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)

stillbirth

hypomagnesaemia

hypocalcaemia

shoulder dystocia (may cause Erb’s palsy)