Posted On: February 13, 2009
Gestational Diabetes and Shoulder Dystocia
The video below discusses how gestational diabetes can develop in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes can cause a fetus to grow larger than desired for a vaginal delivery (classified as a large gestational age (LGA) child) and may warrant a c-section.
Large children run the risk of getting their shoulders caught in the birth canal a condition known as shoulder dystocia. If shoulder dystocia is not managed properly the child may develop nerve damage to the brachial plexus and develop a condition known as erb’s palsy or suffer from lack of oxygen and cerebral palsy or both.
Often, doctors will recommend that mothers with gestational diabetes and LGA children deliver the child via c-section to avoid the risk of shoulder dystocia.
