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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for my baby to be delivered at 33 weeks?

127 replies

Givinguph0pe · 15/12/2015 10:27

I'm a type 1 diabetic and I'm 32+5 weeks pregnant.
Over the last four days my insulin requirements have fallen by 50%. This is absolutely not the norm. Usually the hormones kicked out by the placenta inhibit insulin and levels increase - which they had done until last Friday.
I've had a scan and baby has grown and apparently blood flow to and from the baby was normal. This means that the consultants are saying that there's probably no imminent danger and that they will keep monitoring me.

However I am extremely concerned that this rapid drop in insulin requirements means the placenta is going to stop doing its job in the very near future. I am not happy to wait any longer than it will take for me to have the steroids for the baby's lungs to be honest. I want her delivered. No one can give me any other suggestions as to why this fall in insulin levels has happened. I am now taking the same amount of insulin as I was before I got pregnant. If I did not have an insulin pump I would be having some fairly severe hypos by this point.
Personally I cannot see what other reason there could be for this - despite what the scan showed - and I'm not sure how much time I have to be honest.

I'm going back to the hospital this afternoon and I'm going to push for them to deliver her. What's the chances they'll agree?!

OP posts:
Kaytee1987 · 15/12/2015 12:26

Sorry 23 weeks and a couple of days baby was born.

LibrariesgaveusP0wer · 15/12/2015 12:29

If you say to a non specialist that you want to be induced I doubt they will listen. You need to get to see someone who knows about this.

This, absolutely.

33 weeks is early enough to be scary. I have two friends who have delivered at this gestation and you are generally talking prolonged hospital stays and potential scary complications.

So, for those risks to be lower than the diabetes risks and it to be a good idea to deliver, you need to be seeing someone who really understands diabetes in pregnancy and can assess things.

This is very different to the couple of people talking about 37 or 38 weeks. Those last few weeks make the world of difference. Pushing for section at 38 weeks has no real relevance to doing it at 33 weeks.

Sameshitdiffname · 15/12/2015 12:31

Tell your consultant about your worries, it's highly likely they will keep you in and monitor you at first and then see how your doing before inducing you.

The doctor is there for you to express your concerns I wouldn't say there's a 0% chance of being induced there's definitely a chance but they will most likely monitor first.

Good luck

mrsmortis · 15/12/2015 12:31

I'd be pushing for steroids to make sure baby's lungs are matured enough in case she needed to be born early. But not necessarily pushing for her to be born straight away. I have a niece who was born at 33 weeks (my sister had placenta previa) and it's not easy for the baby even with all the modern technology. Despite the dangers to my sister they kept my niece in there as long as possible to give her as good as chance as they possibly could in the outside world.

Lasaraleen · 15/12/2015 12:40

You need an expert risk-based opinion.

There are a lot of risks still to babies born at 33 weeks. My first dc was born at 34 weeks, I had both doses of steroids, he was a good weight, all the doctors told me he would just need to fatten up. Actually things can be a lot more complicated for babies of that gestation - he had respiratory distress syndrome, was in NICU on a ventilator for 5 days, had lots of trouble breathing when he came off, got aspiration pneumonia and was back in HDU just when we thought things had turned a corner... He was in hospital for 2 months and it was pretty horrible. Yes of course infinitely better to have him alive, but the risks associated with each option need to be balanced by someone who really knows what they're talking about.

Sameshitdiffname · 15/12/2015 12:43

There's not a 0% chance sorry

NKFell · 15/12/2015 12:46

I'm Type 1 and with my first and second baby my bg was all over the place with baby number 3 it wasn't so bad.

I know how scary it is, if I were you I would push to be admitted or at least be able to see a specialist. I got referred to a specialist with the second who was at a different hospital but really knew there stuff.

Definitely tell your consultant exactly what your concerns are and make sure they're aware how stressed you are about it.

Stepawayfromthezebras · 15/12/2015 12:50

I don't know anything about diabetes but have you had your whooping cough vacc yet? I was due mine in two weeks time at 35 weeks but have had a couple of bleeds due to placenta previa, the last was on Friday so I got the GP to book me in for a WC vacc yesterday just in case.

I had steroids at 28 weeks - it would definitely also be worth pushing for those.

bishboschone · 15/12/2015 12:57

I had my son at 33 weeks due to Pre eclampsia .. I was on bed rest in the hospital for a month before and I was literally on deaths door before they did an emergency c section.. They kept saying to me you are fine and your baby needs to stay put .. It's very early and he didn't fair well I'm afraid ...

Pythonesque · 15/12/2015 13:19

Agree with those encouraging you to speak with your consultants. Your situation should I think be something where decision making involves a discussion between the endocrine and obstetric consultants. I too would suspect that daily monitoring is a useful minimum starting point.

You might find it helpful to monitor your baby's movement patterns in some way (a straight kick chart may be less helpful than episodes of movement, based on a quick google, and you sound to have sophisticated body-awareness).

Very best wishes.

Original poster
Givinguph0pe · 15/12/2015 13:24

Have been and had another Doppler scan (privately) which still showed as normal. Baby is massive but I'm diabetic and also my first ds was and still is big and there was more fluid there than before but she said it was still ok and that can vary quite a bit anyway.
Have spoken to diabetes team who are going to try and get hold of someone in obstetrics to see if I need to go and have steroids yet. They are mystified.
I'm not really sure where I go from here.

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 15/12/2015 13:36

The hospital will advise you surely asking is an option im not diabetic but with dd2 i had problems and it was a day to day decision from 32 weeks i had her at 35 you get steroids for their lungs first I hope you get answers today its no fun worrying Flowers

minipie · 15/12/2015 13:43

I think the relevant stories on here are CheeseandGherkins and ZylaB.

I would really be pushing for daily placenta/blood flow scans. Are you close to the hospital and are you working - can you offer to come in whenever they can fit you in? Can you just turn up and refuse to move till they scan you (last resort!)

I hate to say this but I would suggest you put your requests for scans etc, and your reasons, in writing/email. Means that if they say no and something goes wrong there would be a paper trail - hence may make them more likely to say yes.

MrsJayy · 15/12/2015 13:48

Just saw your update I hope they get back to you quickly

unimaginativename13 · 15/12/2015 13:50

When you say massive what is the weight?

My DS was 5lb at 33 weeks.

Original poster
Givinguph0pe · 15/12/2015 13:55

Around five and a half pounds.
She's massive.
My first one was too.
My sugars have been well controlled but I believe I may be fighting genetics and diabetes.,

OP posts:
unimaginativename13 · 15/12/2015 13:56

My concern is that you've had 2 scans now both showing normal. I'm pretty sure that any diabetes in pregnancy has a rollercoaster effects (or surely it would be plain sailing for all and we know it's not)

I'm not sure why you aren't under the supervision of diabetic team to explain why this is happening.

To my knowledge diabetes needs monitoring and adjusting constantly during pregnancy so there should be someone to advise.

Personally I would say what is happening is normal during pregnancy and to request a delivery at 33 weeks is waaay to extreme.

Original poster
Givinguph0pe · 15/12/2015 13:58

The diabetes team have only ever seen this in placental deterioration cases. They are at a complete loss. I've spoken to them numerous times and they said they don't know any more than I do, which wasn't terribly comforting.

OP posts:
unimaginativename13 · 15/12/2015 13:59

5 and a half pounds is not massive!!!

Your looking at half a pound a week from now. So more than likely you will be induced at 38 weeks anyway. So that's an 8lb baby.

Mine was the same prediction and he was 7lb 2oz and by the time I was induced it was nearly 39 anyway.

And that was because they were concerned about him being a big diabetes baby.

Lymmmummy · 15/12/2015 14:51

Appreciate your concerns - I had a friend who delivers at 32plus 4 because of preeclampsia - baby was fine and is now a very energetic young child with no problems at all - but was in NICU for several weeks and it was enormously distressing for her

I am pretty sure she said if the pregnancy could have continued to 34 weeks that there would have been very good chance she could have taken baby straight home as 34 /35 weeks tends to be almost equivalent to full term - in her case it simply was not possible to continue the pregnancy as she needed emergency c-section for very serious complications. perhaps your doctors are trying to get you as far as possible say to the 34 week mark to avoid baby being in NICU

minipie · 15/12/2015 20:07

Lymmmummy No, 34 weekers do not usually go straight home. My 34 weeker was in for 3.5 weeks and that was without any major health complications. 34 weeks is very much NOT almost equivalent to full term. Please be careful about sayng such things...

saranga · 15/12/2015 21:49

Push for daily scandsand daily ctgs. Things can change so quickly.

thewolfof34thstreet · 15/12/2015 22:01

"34/35 weeks tends to be almost equivalent to full term"

er no...not at all

Dipankrispaneven · 15/12/2015 22:04

5 and a half pounds is not massive!!!

It is at 33 weeks when you have diabetes.

ChatEnOeuf · 15/12/2015 22:30

In your situation, I'd want to be admitted for steroids, monitoring and to consider delivery in the coming week or so. With steroids, at 34 weeks, the majority of babies do very well. I've had a 36w stillbirth and accept that this has some considerable bearing on how I feel about these things.

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