Infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at increased risk for which of the following?

Infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes are particularly at increased risk for shoulder dystocia during delivery. This condition occurs when the baby's shoulder gets stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone during birth. One significant factor contributing to this is that gestational diabetes can lead to macrosomia, which is excessive growth in the fetus. Larger babies have a higher chance of experiencing shoulder dystocia because their size can make the delivery process more complex.

In contrast, hyperglycemia directly affects the mother's blood sugar levels rather than the infant at birth, while intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) typically results from complications associated with other conditions and is less common in the context of gestational diabetes, which usually leads to larger birth weights. Hypothermia can occur in any newborn due to environmental factors, but it is not specifically linked as a higher risk associated with gestational diabetes.

Understanding these implications helps underscore the importance of monitoring and managing gestational diabetes to mitigate risks during pregnancy and labor.