What complication can gestational diabetes lead to for the newborn?

Gestational diabetes can lead to hypoglycemia in the newborn primarily due to the infant's exposure to elevated maternal blood glucose levels during pregnancy. When the mother has gestational diabetes, her body produces higher than normal levels of glucose. The fetus receives this excess glucose, which stimulates the pancreas of the unborn baby to produce more insulin to manage the incoming glucose.

After birth, when the newborn is suddenly removed from the high-glucose environment of the womb, the increased insulin production can cause the infant's blood sugar levels to drop sharply. This drop in glucose levels leads to hypoglycemia, which can manifest as symptoms such as irritability, poor feeding, lethargy, or even more severe problems if not addressed promptly.

While hyperglycemia is a concern for the mother during pregnancy, it does not directly affect the newborn in the same manner. Jaundice may occur in newborns for various reasons but is not directly connected to gestational diabetes. Similarly, respiratory distress is a separate issue that can have multiple causes unrelated to gestational diabetes. Thus, the most straightforward and common complication linked directly to gestational diabetes affecting the newborn is hypoglycemia.