Macrosomia is a condition where babies are born abnormally large, often due to diabetic mothers, obesity, past delivery dates, or previous overweight births. Women of African and Hispanic descent are more likely to give birth to macrosomal babies. Giving birth to a macrosomal baby can cause excessive bleeding and damage to the tailbone, and increase the chance of needing a C-section. Induced labor may be beneficial for diabetic mothers, but there are risks. Macrosomal babies may experience shoulder injuries, facial nerve damage, or brachial plexus injuries, but often suffer no long-term damage.
Macrosomia is a medical condition that causes an abnormally large body. This condition is usually seen in babies whose birth weight exceeds a certain amount. Macrosomia is often thought to be the result of a diabetic mother. Other factors that can cause the condition include the mother’s obesity, past delivery dates, and overweight previous births. Women of African descent and Hispanic women are generally considered the most likely to give birth to macrosomal babies.
Medical professionals don’t have a complete understanding of macrosomia. Some women who show no apparent risk factors give birth to macrosomal babies. Conversely, many women with characteristics that may suggest the likelihood of macrosomia actually give birth to babies of normal weight. Women with recognized cases of diabetes are generally encouraged to manage their blood sugar. Other than that, there are no methods to prevent macrosomia.
Giving birth to a macrosomal baby can cause a woman to bleed excessively and can cause damage to her tailbone. Macrosomia also increases a woman’s chance of needing a C-section. It’s difficult for doctors to accurately determine a baby’s weight during pregnancy, even when ultrasounds are done.
A doctor may suggest a C-section based on an assumption that the baby is too big. The size of the head and shoulders can make it difficult for a woman to give birth naturally. In some cases, when a baby is too big, one of her shoulders can get stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. This is called shoulder dystocia and can be fatal to the baby.
Although doctors tend to suggest cesarean section when there is suspicion of macrosomia, it is not always necessary. Some evidence shows that many women can safely go into vaginal labor. Doctors may also suggest inducing labor when they think this condition is present.
Induced labor is usually only potentially beneficial if the mother is diabetic. The reason is because it can eliminate the need for a C-section by getting the mother to go into labor before the baby outgrows it. This method can be used if the mother wants to give birth naturally. There are risks, however, that the induction could fail.
Giving birth to a macrosomic baby can sometimes have adverse effects on the baby’s health. In addition to shoulder injuries, a child may experience facial nerve damage or brachial plexus injuries. The brachial plexus is a series of nerves that connect the spine to the shoulders, arms and hands. In many cases, however, macrosomal children suffer no long-term or permanent damage.
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