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December 2005
Thinking About Getting Pregnant?Here’s how you can have the healthy baby you’ve always wantedIf you have diabetes, it’s important to control your blood sugar before you plan to become pregnant.“Having diabetes before you get pregnant won’t necessarily put your baby at risk,” says William E. Roberts, M.D., a Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network maternal-fetal medicine specialist, an expert in high-risk pregnancies. With careful planning and good diabetes control, your chance of having a healthy baby are excellent. But uncontrolled blood sugar does increase your risk of having a large baby or one with a serious birth defect, such as a heart problem or spina bifida. “You can avoid these conditions by keeping your blood sugar under control for several months before you get pregnant,” says Roberts’ colleague, obstetrician Edward Geosits, D.O. To ensure you have a healthy baby—even if you’ve had diabetes for years—consider seeking counseling from a maternal-fetal medicine physician or a dietitian who specializes in diabetes in pregnancy to help you plan a safe pregnancy. "Maternal-fetal specialists – who specialize in complicated pregnancies – will also examine your eyes, kidneys and other organs to help make sure your pregnancy has a healthy outcome," Roberts says. What happens when you become pregnant? It’s important to continue to be vigilant about your care. “You’ll need a blood test to see if your baby is at risk for birth defects and a test that checks for heart defects,” Roberts says. “Doctors will also monitor your blood sugar and give you ultrasounds throughout your pregnancy to make sure your baby is healthy and growing well.” A plan for delivery is also important. Because you’re at risk for having a large baby, “vaginal delivery can be difficult and injure your baby,” Geosits says. So, beginning at 32 weeks, doctors do another check-in to monitor your baby’s growth and determine the best time – and way – of delivery. “Remember, if you control your blood sugar before and throughout your pregnancy,” Roberts says, “your chance of having a healthy baby is the same as someone without diabetes.” Want to learn more about Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Diabetes and Pregnancy Program? Call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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