A 32-year-old woman recently gave birth to a stillborn baby during her fourth pregnancy. Despite being diagnosed with high blood sugar at 28 weeks gestation, she did not receive treatment. By the time she reached the 40th week of pregnancy, the fetal heart rate was slow, and unfortunately, when she arrived at the hospital, the fetus was stillborn.
The woman had previously given birth to a child who weighed 4 kg and had a history of one miscarriage. During this pregnancy, she experienced symptoms such as increased thirst and frequent urination but did not perceive them as dangerous indicators of diabetes.
When she went to the doctor at 40 weeks, she 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 the patient overlooked many risk factors and signs of diabetes such as family history of type 2 diabetes, previously giving birth to a large baby, high blood sugar levels combined with symptoms of diabetes.
It is crucial that pregnant women with risk factors like advanced maternal age, a history of large babies, family members with diabetes or being overweight or obese undergo screening for gestational diabetes in the early stages of pregnancy. Regular monitoring and timely treatment are essential to prevent adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.
