Hypoglycemia at Birth. One of the most common metabolic disorders of the neonate of a GDM mother is hypoglycemia. It occurs due to the hyperinsulinemia of the fetus in response to the maternal hyperglycemia in utero. Hypoglycemia can lead to more serious complications like severe central nervous system and cardiopulmonary disturbances. Major long-term sequelae include neurologic
damage resulting in mental retardation, recurrent seizure activity, developmental delay and personality disorders.
Neonatal Jaundice. Factors which may account for jaundice are prematurity, impaired hepatic conjugation of bilirubin and increased enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin resulting from poor feeding. In macrosomia, neonates have a high oxygen demand causing increased erythropoiesis and, ultimately, polycythemia. Therefore, when these cells break down, bilirubin (a byproduct of
red blood cells) increases resulting in neonatal jaundice.
Congenital Anomalies. Heart defects and neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, are the most common types of birth defects. The high blood sugar level of women with GDM can damage the developing organs of the fetus, leading to congenital anomalies.