How can gestational diabetes affect the mother and the baby?
Gestational diabetes can lead to several complications for both mother and baby. For the mother, it increases the risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia. It also increases the likelihood of requiring a cesarean section. For the baby, gestational diabetes can result in macrosomia, a condition where the baby grows too large, increasing the risk of delivery complications. Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes also have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
