Gestational Diabetes - HELP!

[heron22]

Hi
I am 34+4 and have gestational diabetes. Taking metformin tablets and keeping a low GI diet. Had a scan today and baby is 6.5 lbs, so he is big but not overly big.

Question please: will it be safe for me to go to full term, ie, 40 weeks? or do i need to deliver early, eg, 38-39 weeks?

thanks! any personal experiences much appreciated!

Been there twice - last one was delivered by C-section at 38+ weeks - my choice - they would let me be induced early, but no option of going to full term. He was 8lb 8oz and spent 26 hours in SCBU. all well now, apart from me being diabetic!!!

Been there twice - last one was delivered by C-section at 38+ weeks - my choice - they would let me be induced early, but no option of going to full term. He was 8lb 8oz and spent 26 hours in SCBU. all well now, apart from me being diabetic!!!

Hiya

I had diet controlled GD with both my pregancies and was induced on my due date with both of them. DS was 7lb 3 and DD was 7lb 13 so neither were huge.

Both times, the plan was to try and let me got to term if possible. To achieve this, I had to go to the diabetic clinic weekly and they always said that if there was any significant change to my blood sugar levels they would induce me early. They also did a couple of late scans to check the size of the baby and, again, I was told that if there was any issue with that, they would induce early. With DS, I was actually not due to be induced til 40+3 but when I went to weekly clinic on my due date my BP was up so I got taken in and induced immediately.

So I guess what I'm saying is that in my experience yes, it can be safe/feasible to go to full term but there are lots of factors that might mean you have to go a bit early.

Hope this helps. If you've any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks Andyrobo and Peedie for your replies

Since I had a section with my first child, I would prob need another section cos i am pretty sure my doc would not induce me.

Andyrobo, so after your baby was born, the diabetes did not go away? Also, why was your baby at SCBU? was it jaundice? this is what i am most worried about - that my baby would not be ok!

Peedie, I test my blood glucose daily at home and have scan every couple of weeks to check size of baby. I take it that both your babies did not need to go to SCBU?

It is a real worrying time for me right now
From the scan done yesterday, my baby will be around 8.5-9 lbs at full term.

Hi Heron

To answer your question, no neither of mine went to the SCBU. With DS we stayed in hospital for a couple of days but with DD we were out within 6 hours - I wanted home to see DS! I think though that different hospitals may have different procedures so it might be worth speaking to your midwife/consultant to find out what is the norm for GD deliveries in your area.

Please try not to worry - although I know that's easy for me to say but harder for you to do. I was beside myself with worry when pg with DS and then not so much with DD as I'd been through it once with no problems. I just reassured myself that having GD meant I had a much bigger team looking after me more closely so if something was to go wrong, it would get picked up much quicker, if you see what I mean.

Both times, my blood sugars returned to normal post birth so I am not classed as having diabetes now but I have been warned that I have a higher than normal chance of developing type 2 later on.

And of course, without sounding fantastically shallow(!), the 'benefit' of GD is you can lose loads of weight on the low GI diet. When I was weighed at clinic the week before I gave birth, I was lighter than I was at my booking appt!

Heron - DS went to SCBU as he would not feed and his temperature was too low, and they could not warm him up. His blood sugar levels were low also. He did look odd being in a full incubator thingy stripped off except for his nappy compared to the smaller ones were in other rooms. They did manange to sort him out within 12 hours, but kept him for another 14 hours to ensure he was feeding ok - bottles not BF.

With regards to me, I managed diet control with DD 7 years ago as GD was diagnosed late on, and then all went back to normal at my 6 week check.

However with DS, I was monitored very closely and got to around 20-22 weeks before it kicked in, and within two weeks I was on insulin injections - the week before christmas! That in itself was ok - not as bad as I expected!

I went back to the Preg Assess unit at 6 weeks for a repeat glucose tolerance test, and they could not do it as my fasting level was over 7 - something to do with their protocols. So rather than referring me to a diabetic clinic, i was referred back to the GP, who did fasting blood tests at 6 month intervals, and a longer tern HbA1C test, and then earlier this year, I was sent for another GTT test - which confirmed the diabetes. I was only just in the range of over 11 though! Currently manage it by diet alone for the last 6 months, but expexcting to be going onto tablets after Christmas. I need to lose weight - which is extremely difficult - only 2 - 3 stones, so not too overweight, but enough for it to make it hard for my body to cope!

I am sure all will be well, and you will be getting good care. Good luck!