Induction stories for GD mums

[hels1316]

I am currently 37+2 with my 2nd, and was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks - had a 10lber 1st time, so had to have GTT which I failed. I have managed the GD with diet control, and have had no other problems. Baby is measuring average at all the scans, so the plan at the moment is to induce at 40 weeks. I am extremely nervous about getting induced - I have heard so many horror stories, and it just seems to go against nature, as baby may not be ready to come out! I just wondered if anyone has been induced at 40 weeks, and what their experiences were. I have an appt with the diabetes team on Monday, and will be booked in for the induction then, so would love to have a good idea of what to ask/say to them.

I was induced at 40wks exactly. Was diagnosed with GD at 38 weeks so not much time for planning! DD was 8lb 10oz.

Induction itself was ok for me, the labour was fine and no additional intervention. I would ask them exactly what the plan of action is. I had three lots of prostin gel and was strapped to a monitor for an hour after each. Luckily my waters broke just after the third lot but earlier in the day they were huffing and puffing with regard to what to do if the third one had no effect. In the clinic when I was booked in for the induction I was told three lots of gel then a c sec. On the ward they were considering drips etc and I actually had no idea of what to expect if the prostin didn't work.

The one thing I really wish I had known about before was that afterwards they would be checking dd's blood sugar and, because of that, they pretty much forced me to give her formula. This was combined with a total and utter lack of bf support or basic instruction (their idea of teaching me to bf was to give me a small cup and a leaflet on expressing at midnight). So hopefully your experience will be better but if you want to bf I would be absolutely adamant from the start and let them know while you are in a sane frame of mind that you do not want to be bullied into ff. It's much harder to stand firm when you are knackered, emotional and they are telling you your baby needs feeding 'properly'.

I hope I'm not putting you off. I just happened to have a cow for a diabetic nurse and several cows for mws and even though dd is past 2 now I stick kick myself daily for letting them bully me like that.

Loads of luck, I'm sure your HCPs will be lovely and it'll all go well :)

YOu don't have to accept the induction. You can ask them what the alternatives are and what are the risks to those alternatives - then ask what are the risks of induction - and you can weigh them up together iyswim. There is no risk free option unfortunately.

Rockbird - sorry to hear about your experience. I personally think that there is too much pathway following with GD and mums and babies get a bit suashed in the process but it's hard to protest because it's always described as being 'for the good of the baby'. It's tough to see past that argument.

Thanks for your replies - it is really hard to make a decision when there is little information out there about well controlled GD. I will see what they say on Monday, but I am trying to research as best I can the pros and cons of induction, or maybe asking to be monitored instead. I think the placenta can deteriorate with GD and that is one of the reasons they like to induce, not sure of other reasons.

Rockbird - I had heard that they can be pushy about feeding, so will make sure I let them know I want to BF if possible. Thanks for the advice.

If your GD is well controlled - and it sounds like it is from your own tests and from baby's weight - then there really shouldn't be a much increased risk of problems after birth for the baby should there? Therefore I would say 'I intend to breastfeed' and leave out the 'if possible'

I'm in a similar situation, but a few weeks later than you (I'm 34w). I was put in the GD category, but my results were only borderline and I've been able to control it with diet alone.

My next appointment is at 37 weeks, not sure exactly what they're going to tell me, but they have said they WILL induce at 40w. It sounds scary, like some of you mentioned, the path seems to be quite rigid for GD patients. I really don't understand why they HAVE to do it and I'm hoping my LO comes earlier than that!

It's interesting to hear about the breastfeeding, as none of the consultants have mentioned anything about that.

I'm looking forward to hearing how your appointment went on Monday. I hope you get some sensible answers.

Good luck!

NICE guidelines are for induction but that doesn't mean it's right for you and your baby and like everything else you have a right to be informed and to question this. If you don't have it them you should be offered well being tests for the baby at 39, 40 and 41 weeks - that's in the guidelines too. I think there is an assumption with GD that mums will just do what they're told - and I resent that rather I didn't have GD but I was 'invited' to have a GTT as I am overweight. With both dd1 and dd2 I declined this - to the shock of the consultant and midwife I was dealing with. It seemed like they really didn't expect people to refuse the test Dd2 was born healthy at 41 weeks weighing 8lbs 11oz and dd3 was born at the same gestation weighing 7lbs 15 NOT the 9-10lbs my consultant had gloomly predicted.

Hi there, wonder if I can join too?
I'm 35 weeks with GD controlled by insulin and have been told I will be induced at 38 weeks due to baby measuring at least 3 weeks big.
My question is, can I say to the gel/pessary, but no to the drip? And if I say no to the drip, will they give me a c-section (I would be happy with a c-section to start with but I don't think they will let me)?

Thanks!

Sorry that should be, can I say "yes" to the gel/pessary ....

hi i would like to join us to ,im 37yrs hving my 4th baby but first with diebetes, im 31wks now and been told i will be induced at 38 weeks,i hve to take metformin twice a day and insulin 4 times a day

I had GD with my first pregnancy, well controlled by diet. I was booked in for an induction on my due date (seemed like I didn't have much choice) but it massively snowed (in London so not where it can be coped with) and the induction was cancelled as they were only doing emergency procedures. If they were prepared to let me go another week because of snow, it can't be that urgent in my book.

However it's difficult to make a decision when you're under pressure and desperately want to do the right thing for the baby. I was induced a week later.

It was fine - not great, but fine and I managed with gas and air and no other interventions. I wanted to avoid pethedine because I thought it might make the baby sleepy and therefore less likely to feed properly but you should probably check this with a midwife/ bf counsellor as I don't know where I got that from. I wanted to avoid epidural because the idea of it terrifies me and the pain never got bad enough to be worse than my fear, if you see what I mean! So if people are saying you won't want to have an induction with no epidural, that's not necessarily the case. Though obviosuly if you want one you should go for it!

Just realised you had your meeting today - hope it goes well.

Have told this story elsewhere on here but can't remember where so will repeat it
I diet controlled GD and my readings and scans were fine but the policy was to induce either early or on due date so I was induced on the due date. Three pessaries, (very painful) two days and being sent back home later, waters broke.Went back but nothing else happened for a day and half until they found a delivery room for me. what I didn't understand was why, if it was so urgent that I be induced, I wasn't an urgent enough case to be given priority for a delivery room! Eventually I was found a room and hooked up to a drip for 16 hours with it turned up to max. It achieved very little and I only got to about 4cm. Had very painful contractions but DS was pressing on my bladder not my cervix. Had morphine which helped the pain but meant I was pretty much delirious and have sketchier memories than I'd like of the first day with my son. Ended up with a CS which was totally fine and a relief but in total I was in hospital for a week. Am now pg again and am going to push for an elcs and will not be consenting to induction. I really think he wasn't ready and I was simply put on the GD "policy" regardless of the fact my DS was not big (7.13 at birth). Also agree with what other said about feeding. He did have slightly low sugar and was given formula straight away.
Sorry to have sucha long post and don;t want to scare you - the main thing is that you get the right birth FOR YOU, not what the policy says you should have. Good luck

Hi, update on how my meeting went. It was pretty unexciting really - he told us he wanted to book us in for induction at 40 weeks (my readings are still ok with no medication) and we said we didnt want to be induced. He then said, well, all he can do is advise us that it is the policy that they usually induce at 40 weeks, and we would be risking stillbirth if we didnt go ahead. He asked us why we didnt want induction, and I said if my body/baby wasnt ready to give birth, I was pretty sure that forcing it wasnt a great idea! I didnt want to end up having an EMCS etc.

We left it at me having a sweep next week (Monday at 38+6) and we would see how we felt then.

Still not really sure what is the best for baby if he hasent come naturally by then, he did say that it could be the case that leaving the mums who are on no medication could be more damaging than inducing early.

To be honest, it all sounds a little vague. I think there is a chance that you could have a stillborn, but there is a chance you could have a stillborn with no diabetes!

Hopefully the sweep may get things moving, or at least I will find out if my cervix is getting ready!

Good luck everyone!

Im really disappointed, thought bubba might have appeared by now, but no signs yet. Got a sweep booked for tomorrow (38+6), but am really nervous - I remember from last time that it was pretty painful! Oh well, hopefully it might get things going, but at least I will see how my cervix is looking!

I'm sorry to hear nothing has happened yet, it must be really stressful.
Hope your sweep goes well and your LO is kind enough to come out and put a smile on your face soon.
Take care

Hi, just wondered whether anyone has any updates on their situation, or more stories to share? I am going in on Tuesday for the induction, so am getting a bit nervous!

Hi all,

I'm 24+6 I have pre-existing type 2 diabetes and was managing it with dietary control perfectly well till about 18 weeks. I'm now on metformin and insulin twice daily.

I was told early on that I'd be induced at 38 weeks as baby is likely to be big. I told them that I am not inclined to be induced for a number of reasons

• I also have antiphospholipid syndrome meaning my baby is likely to be small and pre-term
• I am on clexane and aspirin to prevent TIAs (mini-strokes) and have to stop this medication 12 hours before labour leaving me a window of opportunity before I'm at risk of stroke again of about 12 more hours, from what I understand induction doesn't always mean quicker at all and therefore they are exposing me and baby to risk
• if they want to get my baby out earlier then I feel it should be planned c-section therefore short and properly medically controlled rather than the randomness of induction or an overly medicalised long labour (btw - I am not desperate to have a cs, however on weighing up the options I think it may be best for me a LO)

They said they wouldn't let me go past due date (good) but they would decide at 36 weeks!

I am very concerned about the bf / formula issue - I want to bf, no-one has talked to me about it yet.

I'm having scans every four weeks and he's measuring appropriately every time, currently weighing 1lb8oz.

Good to hear other people's experiences :)