Neonatal hypoglycemia corresponds to a decrease in the baby's blood glucose levels that can be noticed between 24 and 72 hours after birth. This condition is more common to occur in babies who were born premature, large or small for gestational age or whose mother had inadequate nutrition during pregnancy.
Neonatal hypoglycemia is considered when:
- Glucose is below 40 mg / dL in babies born at term, that is, at the right time; Glucose is below 30 mg / dL in premature babies.
The diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycemia is made within 72 hours after birth by measuring the baby's glucose concentration. It is important that the diagnosis is made as soon as possible so that the treatment can be started and, thus, to avoid complications, such as permanent brain damage and even death.
Signals and symptons
The signs and symptoms presented by the newborn and which may be indicative of neonatal hypoglycemia are:
- Excess sleep; Cyanosis, in which the baby's skin turns bluish; Change in heart rate; Weakness; Respiratory change.
In addition, if neonatal hypoglycemia is not controlled, it is possible that there are some complications, such as coma, brain impairment, learning difficulties and even leading to death. Therefore, it is important that the diagnosis is made in the first hours after birth and, if it is not done but the symptoms appear after a few days of birth, it is important to go to the pediatrician to make the diagnosis and start treatment.. Find out what the consequences of hypoglycemia are.
Causes of neonatal hypoglycemia
The causes of neonatal hypoglycemia are related to the mother's habits and health condition. The baby is more likely to have hypoglycemia when the mother suffers from gestational diabetes, uses alcohol or some medication during pregnancy, does not have diabetes controlled and has inadequate nutrition, for example.
In addition, the baby may have a low glycogen supply or excessive insulin production, which is more common in newborns of diabetic mothers, and feeding should happen every 2 or 3 hours according to the pediatrician's recommendation.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for neonatal hypoglycemia is established by the pediatrician and breastfeeding is usually indicated every 3 hours, and the baby should be awakened if necessary, so that glucose levels can be more easily regulated. If breastfeeding is not sufficient to regulate the baby's glucose levels, it may be necessary to administer glucose directly into the vein.
