Induction because I'm diabetic

[babysquirrel]

Please help. I'm 36 weeks pregnant with second baby. This time I've had gestational diabetes, so have been told that I will be induced. I haven't really been given a choice about this or had the reasons for this explained properly. Baby is currently within the normal range in terms of size. I'm going to the ante-natal clinic today and will ask there, but previous experience has told me not to be too hopeful of a clear answer.

Has anybody had a similar experience? Why is induction thought necessary? What are the pros and cons?

[bethoo]

i had an induction of my one and only child as i also developed gestational diabetes. something about larger than normal babies and the level of their blood sugar which can lead to still birth if born later than due date. i was induced at 39 weeks 3 days and the labour was 20 minutes once i had dilated. you have to be monitored too and when the baby is born he/she will have their blood sugar tested to se if your diabetes has affected them too.

[GothicCandles]

Are you able to control the GD with diet? If so, and if the baby is an acceptable size, then I don't see why you should have to be induced. Also, was your first baby large and was s/he born SVD without difficulties? Again, if so, then you have proven yourself capable of birthing a large baby, and should not forsee any difficulties with this one.

But I am not medically qualified, merelys peaking as the mum of 3 large babies, who had sugar issues in each pregnancy and had to fight not to be labeled as GD and have control over my birth taken away from me.

[babysquirrel]

I'm on insulin and still not well controlled. My first baby was 8lb 3 so not small and I had a vaginal delivery.

[babysquirrel]

"bethoo" did you still manage to move around during labour?

[hoxtonchick]

i have pre-existing diabetes, & have had both my babies induced. second time wasn't nearly as prolonged as the first. as bethoo says, if you go to term or beyond there is a higher liklihood of the baby being too big (not true in my case, ds was 7lbs10 at 39 weeks & dd was 6lbs11 at 38 weeks), the baby's blood sugar dropping after delivery & the placenta not working as well. frankly, i was so fed up of being pregnant by that point i didn't mind. though induction isn't always the nicest experience i would do it again.

[GothicCandles]

Sorry, babysquirrel, my circs were nothing like yours - I can't advise you from my experience.

I have a friend with Type 1 diabetes who went into spontaneous labour the day before her planned delivery was due to be started, so you may yet get a non-induced birth.

[bethoo]

babysquirrel - i could move though was not allowed the water birth i had wanted! i ended up squatting type thing on my hands during delivery.

[babysquirrel]

I'm hoping that I'll go into spontaneous labour before induction. I had was in the birthing pool for my first labour although I had to get out for the delivery and was a bit disappointed that I wouldn't be able to do the same this time. The water was great for the pain.

[bethoo]

the other thing about induction is that it tends to be quicker and the more painful than if you went into labor naturally

[tigger15]

I'm a type 1 diabetic and was induced.

You said that they haven't really explained things properly and that you're on insulin. What date do they want to induce you at? Did they say whether you'll be required to have an insulin drip during labour and if so whether you'll have CFM as well? It's worth getting these things sorted out beforehand when you can talk about them rather than when you're in labour.

It's very difficult to discuss pros and cons of induction without the full facts but the rate of stillbirth does increase for everyone the longer you go. However, certain factors can increase it and diabetes is meant to be one of them.

The major con of induction is not just the pain but that it raises the chance of the "cascade of interventions" ie syntocin, epidural, distress/failure to progress= emergency c section. Saying that though many women do have inductions and avoid the above. There are lots of positive threads on here where induction has worked and some women consequently would rather be induced than wait when the baby is overdue.

Get another appointment with your team, write down questions and bring along your support person (husband, doula, mother or even a friend) to make sure that all your questions are answered and not missed because of pregnancy brain. No offence meant but everyone gets it and anyway it's really hard to ask questions about some things as you can get frozen without realising it. When they told me about my induction which I knew I'd be having from before I was pregnant, as they told me at a pre-conception appointment that the baby would have to be out by 39 weeks, I couldn't think of anything to ask other than when the drip would go in and it was my mother who thought of all the things like who could be with me when I was induced, when they would have to leave etc.

Good luck.

[bethoo]

tigger - do not remember the midwives telling me about the possible problems with induction - basically only the bad things if i did not have an induction!

[tigger15]

2 consultants told me that. Or rather it was presented as - the baby has to come out by 39 weeks no choice. We prefer to induce as vag birth is best but it may not work and in that case we will do a csec. They meant may not work as in induction not starting labour but said that the best way is if your body starts it off naturally.