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Problems that occur during delivery

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

There are several problems associated with a diabetic's delivery:

  • failure to progress due to foetal macrosomia

  • shoulder dystocia:
    • the foetal head may be delivered without problems but in a macrosomic foetus the shoulders are wider than the head and may become caught at the pelvic brim
    • this is an obstetric emergency associated with a high foetal morbidity and occasional mortality

  • blood glucose control during and after labour:
    • care is required to avoid hypoglycaemia immediately after labour as insulin resistance falls rapidly
    • the insulin dose must be reduced to about 50% of pregnant levels immediately after delivery

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