A 32-year-old pregnant woman recently learned she had high blood sugar at 28 weeks gestation during her fourth pregnancy. Despite the diagnosis, she did not seek treatment for it, and when she arrived at the hospital at 40 weeks, the fetal heart rate was slow. Unfortunately, the fetus was stillborn.
At 28 weeks gestation, the woman was diagnosed with high blood sugar but did not perceive symptoms such as increased thirst and frequent urination as dangerous indicators. The subsequent prenatal check-ups revealed that the fetus was large and that the woman had polyhydramnios. However, despite these risk factors, she chose not to receive treatment for gestational diabetes.
When she went to the doctor at 40 weeks, the expectant mother found out about the slow fetal heart rate and was immediately transferred to Bach Mai Hospital where the fetal heart was ultimately lost. The medical professionals had no choice but to perform a cesarean section.
Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, head of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Bach Mai Hospital, emphasized that many risk factors and signs of diabetes were overlooked by this patient during her pregnancy. These include advanced maternal age, a history of large babies, family members with diabetes, or being overweight or obese. Gestational diabetes screening should be performed early in pregnancy on women with these risk factors to prevent adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.
It is important for pregnant women with risk factors like advanced maternal age, a history of large babies or family members with diabetes undergo screening for gestational diabetes in the early stages of pregnancy. Regular monitoring and timely treatment are crucial to prevent adverse outcomes like stillbirths or premature births.
The patient’s unfortunate outcome serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor health issues can have serious consequences when left untreated during pregnancy. It is essential for healthcare providers to educate patients about their risks and provide them with appropriate screening tests and treatments to ensure a healthy pregnancy outcome for both mother and baby.
