From the embryonic stage to birth, what are the possible effects of long-term immersion in the mother\’s \”sugar water\” on the baby?
High blood sugar has toxic effects on the embryo and may lead to cessation of development or miscarriage in early pregnancy. Even if they survive, the baby still faces the risk of malformation and developmental delays.
High blood sugar is transmitted to the baby through the placenta. In order to maintain blood sugar balance, the baby will continue to secrete insulin, convert the sugar provided by the mother into fat and protein, and continue to grow. This is the so-called \”macrosomia\”.
Not only will this increase the difficulty of delivery, it may also cause the baby to be too large to pass through the birth canal, requiring a caesarean section or facing the risk of shoulder dystocia.
If high blood sugar damages the blood vessels of the placenta, the placenta cannot provide enough nutrients and oxygen to the baby, and the baby is prone to stunted growth, low weight, and possible intrauterine hypoxia. In fact, a small proportion of intrauterine fetal death cases in our hospital are related to maternal blood sugar abnormalities.
Combined polyhydramnios can easily lead to premature birth, accompanied by complications such as hypertension and fetal hypoxia, which may require early termination of pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels in pregnant women. High blood sugar can cause many problems for the mother and fetus. 
Effects on the fetus
1. Overweight at birth
High blood sugar in the mother may cause the fetus to grow too large.
Macrosomic babies (weighing 4 kg or more) are more likely to become stuck in the birth canal, have birth injuries, or need a C-section.
2.Premature birth
High blood sugar may increase a pregnant woman\’s risk of giving birth prematurely before her due date. Or an early delivery may be recommended because the fetus is too large.
3. Severe dyspnea
Premature babies born to pregnant women with gestational diabetes may develop respiratory distress syndrome, causing difficulty breathing.
4. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Sometimes babies of pregnant women with gestational diabetes develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) soon after birth.
Severe attacks of hypoglycemia may cause epilepsy in infants. Prompt feeding, sometimes supplemented by intravenous glucose solution, can normalize the baby\’s blood sugar levels.
5. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Babies of pregnant women with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
6. Stillbirth
Untreated gestational diabetes can cause the baby to die before or soon after birth. 
Impact on mothers
1. Hypertension and preeclampsia
Gestational diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia in pregnant women. Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and other symptoms that threaten the lives of both mother and baby.
2. Surgical delivery (cesarean section)
If a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, she is likely to have a caesarean section.
As an adult:
The genetic genes of parents are the foundation of a person, and they have advantages and disadvantages. The environment in the uterine cavity plays a key role in the development of the embryo into a \”person\”. If a baby is immersed in \”sugar water\” for a long time, the chance of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other metabolic syndromes will be higher when he or she becomes an adult.
So, maternal diabetes will have a certain impact on the fetus, newborn and even adulthood. It is very important for us to manage diabetes well during pregnancy. But don’t be nervous and anxious, doctors will find a way.
