In the womb, the placenta provides a steady supply of glucose from the mother.
One of St. Mary's primary focus areas is women's and children's health. In this series of blogs, Dr. Charles F. Potter, a board-certified neonatologist-perinatal medicine specialist who provides care to infants at St. Mary's, answers questions about conditions that can affect babies (and moms in some cases) and discusses going home after delivery. We hope you find this series educational and invite you to learn more about delivering at St. Mary's.
What is hypoglycemia in a newborn?
Glucose – the most common form of sugar – is the main fuel of the growing infant. In the womb, the placenta provides a steady supply of glucose from the mother. Birth removes the placenta as a source of sugar and the infant must transition to regulating their glucose levels by themselves. Hypoglycemia occurs when the level of sugar in the blood drops too low, sometimes causing symptoms.
What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia usually starts in the first 1-3 hours after birth. Infants can develop shakiness/tremors, blue color, breathing difficulty or pauses, low temperature, poor feeding, decreased activity, and – rarely – abnormal movements called seizures.
Which infants are at risk of hypoglycemia?
Some infants are prone to hypoglycemia. Infants born to mothers with diabetes, extremely small or large infants, infants whose birth was stressful or premature, and mothers treated with certain medications such as terbutaline all tend to have low blood sugars.
How is hypoglycemia diagnosed?
A small blood test is used to measure the amount of glucose in the blood. This can be done if an infant demonstrates symptoms of hypoglycemia or routinely if the infant is at high risk for low blood glucose.
How is hypoglycemia treated?
Usually, hypoglycemia resolves with feeding, either with formula or breast milk. Temporary formula supplementation to breastfeeding may also be necessary. Occasionally, a concentrated glucose gel is given to infants who have persistent low sugars despite feedings.
Rarely, if feedings and gel fail, an IV is started to give glucose intravenously and resolve the hypoglycemia. Depending on the infant, treatment can range from a couple of hours to several days.
What is our goal?
First and foremost, we want to protect your baby’s health! We strive to make your birth experience at St. Mary’s Hospital as joyful as possible as a new life is brought into your family. We strive to include you in our team, which is dedicated to providing unsurpassed medical treatment with compassionate and individualized care.
Learn more about St. Mary’s Family Birth Center in Athens
About Charles Potter, MD
Dr. Charles F. Potter is a board-certified neonatologist-perinatal medicine specialist, a physician who specializes in the care of infants while they are in the hospital. He received his medical education from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals, and completed his specialty fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.