What Is Hypoglycemia in Newborns?
Hypoglycemia means low blood glucose (sugar). It's a condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is lower than normal. It can happen in newborns, children, and adults alike.
During pregnancy, glucose is passed to the baby from the mother through the placenta. Some of the glucose is stored in the placenta, and later in the baby's liver, heart and muscles. These stores of glucose are important for supplying the baby's brain with energy during delivery and for nutrition after the baby is born.
Since the brain depends on blood glucose as its main source of energy, the newborn's brain will not function normally if there is not enough glucose. Blood glucose that is very low may result in seizures and serious brain injury.
