Final answer:
Fetuses with mothers who have gestational diabetes have an increased risk of congenital heart defects option (D) and respiratory distress syndrome. They are also likely to be larger at birth (macrosomia) and are at an increased risk of hypoglycemia shortly after birth due to the mother's high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complications in fetuses with mothers who have gestational diabetes can be quite serious. One potential complication is an increased risk of congenital heart defects option (D). Gestational diabetes can disrupt the normal development of the heart and blood vessels in the fetus, leading to a range of heart-related abnormalities. This is particularly concerning given that the heart is among the earliest organs to develop in the fetus. Additionally, mothers with poorly controlled diabetes may experience damage to small blood vessels, which can, in turn, affect the development of the fetal circulatory system.
Another complication associated with gestational diabetes is the increased risk of the infant developing respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). RDS is a condition that typically affects premature infants, whose lungs are not adequately developed. However, it has been observed that gestational diabetes is a risk factor for RDS, even in infants who are not premature, which may be due to the effect of high blood sugar levels on fetal lung development.
Contrary to increasing the risk of low birth weight, gestational diabetes tends to be associated with macrosomia, or large body size at birth. This is because the excess glucose in the mother's bloodstream can cross the placenta, leading to high fetal insulin levels and subsequent growth acceleration.
Gestational diabetes also does not lead to a decreased risk of hypoglycemia after birth; in fact, it can cause the opposite. Infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of hypoglycemia shortly after birth. This is because the baby's pancreas produces extra insulin in response to the mother's high blood sugar levels. After birth, when the maternal glucose supply is cut off, the baby's high insulin levels can lead to rapidly dropping blood sugar.