Induction by ARM only at 40 weeks

[hels1316]

I am booked in to be induced at 40 weeks (next tuesday) as I have gestational diabetes. I just wondered if anyone has encouraging stories of being induced at 40 weeks, and if so, whether they managed just having their waters broken? The midwife said my cervix was favourable and soft, and im a couple of cm dilated, so she hopes they will just rupture my membranes. My problem is that I really dont want syntocin (the drip) as I know it can make contractions extremely painful.

Are there any others out there with some happy stores?!?

Is gestational diabetes the only reason they want ARM?

has the diabetes been well controlled?

These are questions you need to ask yourself (and them) first.

Personally, I would never consent to ARM but that is how I weigh up the risks.

Yes, my diabetes has been controlled with only diet. It has been a really hard decision, but I have been told too many times that there is a chance my baby could die if I leave it longer than 40 weeks. When I asked about monitoring, the consultant said that they couldnt offer anything that would make sure the baby doesnt just all of a sudden die.

I realise it is a small chance, but I just dont feel I can make the decision to refuse induction.

To me it sounds like shroud-waving. Ask him for scientific evidence to verify what he is saying.

You can also inform yourself by googling the NICE guidelines for GD. I have never heard of this but I don't know much about GD tbh.

He sounds like he is bullying you.

One last thing, you can contact AIMS www.aims.org.uk if you feel like they are bullying you.

I am sorry this is being done to you.

babies can and do die due to GD

renaldo, babies can die because of a lot of other risks that is why they are called risks. to say that an induction is a necessity because of a risk is spurious.

here is a helpful link to start your search for the answers that are right for you. GD

if you use advance search on mumsnet with 'gestational diabetes' a lot of previous threads (in childbirth and pg) will come up. have a browse to find other people's experiences and to hopefully put your mind at ease.

Sounds like hels1316 has already made her decision though.

I was induced at 41 weeks (snow delayed it a week!) but my cervix was not soft or favourable or at all dilated. I had to have the drip but it wasn't that bad.

Best thing you can do if you have decided to go with induction is rest up and get ready to welcome the baby - by the sound of it you may go into labour sooner anyway. Good luck.

I was induced at 40 weeks with 4th, after 3 spontaneous labours (t+0, t+13, t+11), tried arm, left for 3 hours, nothing so went on drip at 12, epi at 230, baby at 4pm. Had been beating myself up about it, was actually relatively stress free and nowhere near as bad as I had feared. Good luck.

I am glad you are getting some positive stories on here. For the record, I am not trying to talk anybody out of what they have decided to have.

What I hear in her second post is someone who has been talked into induction without being given unbiased information with which to make up her mind. That in my opinion is not making an informed choice. Removing an informed choice from a woman who has the capacity to make up her mind for herself when presented with the evidence is patronising and unethical.

It is something which I found an unpleasant set of circumstance to be in and would rather women be treated with dignity.

Off my soapbox.

OP, I hope you make the decisions that are right for you. Not for me or anyone else. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and birth.