If I have to be induced for GD, can I request a CS instead?

[UnoriginalNN]

I know every woman has the right to ask for one, but I really do feel like it's desperately what I want to do.

I'm being induced at 38 weeks due to GD and being on medication to treat it. I'm fine with this as I got diagnosed quite early and appreciate the risks of going any further than 38 weeks.

But DD was induced due to reduced movement and GD, and it was not a good experience. We had the whole resus team, the works. I still cry when I think about it. It was extremely distressing from start to finish.

I would just rather I didn't have to go through that again. I see my consultant in a few weeks, what are the chances of them allowing me to have a CS?

[Nikki2ol6]

My friend asked for one because of bad experience with her first baby. She got one. However my first labour was awful and ended up in a theatre with forceps. My second labour was a much smoother ride as my body knew what it was doing that time round

[hopeful31yrs]

I've just had a c section after forceps with my first and I was not prepared to go through the problems we had with our first with our second. Completely positive experience but had more blood loss with this one. I didn't go into it blind and researched it throughly and demonstrated this to the staff. It also prepared me for potential complications as I was requesting surgery and I was certain I could deal with them. I'm into my 5th day now and sore but more comfortable than I was was post forceps.

Talk to your care provider but do go prepared and make sure you research it before you bring it up so people know you are serious about your request

[MrsLouisTomlinson]

Have a chat with your midwife/consultant. It's worth a ring in mind that babies born by section tend to have more respiratory issues at birth due to not having been through labour so it depends what you're trying to avoid. Good luck.

[MrsLouisTomlinson]

*baring

[MrsLouisTomlinson]

*baring

[UnoriginalNN]

Thank you. Going armed with research is a good idea - I'm not looking to demand anything so much as have an honest conversation about the realities of both. I really don't think DD1 was ready to be here, I think the drugs during early labour etc didn't help but I'm between a rock and a hard place as induction is necessary and the risk of leaving it beyond 38 weeks makes me really uncomfortable. Really tough decision.

[Mummyme87]

Absolutely possible. It will probably be suggested that you have steroid injections as babies born to diabetic mothers are more likely to have breathing problems as are babies born by CS particularly if born before 39/40. Steroids may mean staying in hospital for them as steroids cause blood sugars to go up so may need a sliding scale.

[Bellabelloo]

My baby is measuring big due to GD and I have also been told I will be induced. I desperately want a c-section but my team won't even talk to me about it - they just keep saying that there's no reason not to have a normal birth. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread to see what your team - and anyone else's - says. X

[cockermum85]

Just a little question, how did you find out you had GD? I'm 24 weeks and have a consultant appointment next week (although no one can tell me why!) my midwife suggests it's because my bmi is 30.1 (if I'd known it was a weight watchers weigh in I'd not have eaten lunch before my initial appointment!) she said they might want to test me for GD but I don't really understand much about it...

[Crystal15]

I've never herd of labouring women entitled to request c sections. You only get them if you have a serious medical need. Fear alone doesn't usually get you one

[Blue2014]

Crystal - if fear is leading to mental health difficulties then it's a perfectly creditable reason.

Cocker - GD test is easy but boring. You fast the night before, go in, they take blood, give you a sugary drink and ask you to wait in the waiting area for 2 hours. Then take your blood again.

Op - lurking here as I also have a big baby due to GD and am interested to know my options.

[cockermum85]

Thanks Blue, did you have any symptoms? It just seems like one of those things you might just acquire?

[TerriB84]

cocker- some reasons why you may be asked to take a GD test are: If you have immediate family member with diabetes, I.e parent. Your BMI is above a certain cut off. Your ethnicity - some ethnic groups are more susceptible to getting GD. If baby is measuring big. You developed GD in a previous pregnancy.

I'm sure there will be other reasons too but these are the main ones I can think of.

[Blue2014]

In hindsight I was a little more thirsty than I normally am but not so much I'd really noticed. I had almost all the risk factors though so I guess it was likely it would happen for me. If you do have GD don't worry too much, it hasn't been awful for me and most manage with just a little diet control.

[Bellabelloo]

Cocker - I didn't have any symptoms. Some trusts test women at 28 weeks....others don't test anyone unless they have a high BMI, family history or previous history.

[UnoriginalNN]

I was diagnosed at 10 weeks this time - my BMI was 26 but I have PCOS which is what I keep getting told will have caused it - tbf I am insulin resistant so this makes sense.

My next consultant app is in 3 weeks so I will report back.