Gestational Diabetes and Homebirth

[1973magpie]

Hi,has anyone got any experience of having a homebirth with gestational diabetes?

If not, can anyone tell me about their birth / labour experiences having gd please?

TIA

Magpie - I haven't but just wanted to pop in to say I hope you get lots of responses

Here's some good information Look under contents then You can't have a homebirth because

Magpie I had gd in my last pregnancy and was advised to have a hospital birth as the baby was likely to be bigger and so that my blood sugar could be monitored throughout labour. I was transferred to a specialist midwifery practice.The advice at the time 4 years ago was to ensure labour was induced by no later than 39 weeks if labour did not start spontaneously. I am not sure whether this would apply to you but they were concerned about changes to my placenta. The labour was fine and he took to bf really easily. I was reassured to be in hospital though as the first midwife I was assigned to did not seem very confident about dealing with gd. The gd went away and I have to have yearly blood tests but keep my weight down and exercise a lot and should be at no greater risk of developing diabetes. Good luck

Had GD with both pgs

Became insulin dependent

Induced at 38 weeks for both

DD1 - only needed waters broken
Had G&A and epi
She was delivered by ventouse
she weighed 7lb 10oz

DD2 - Had pessary & waters broken
had epi
She didn't need any assistance
She weighed 7lb 12oz

I was very upset when I was diagnosed as I knew my plans for a water birth had gone out of the window. I had to have an insulin drip to maintain my bloods sugars and test every hour during labour.

But they were very good births and they're both healthy girls.

I hope that your labour is just as good

Thanks for the quick replies

I am currently 36+6 weeks, and was really hoping for a home water birth, but am having to rethink my plans

I am managing to control my gd by diet alone still, but DD1 was 9lb 1oz (and I didn't have gd), so was expecting to have another biggie anyway!

Toady - that's a great site isn't it? I have read all the information there, and it is one of my main reasons for believing that a homebirth is possible. I just don't know if it's a good idea any more...

I have been told by my consultant and diabetologist that the main concerns are shoulder dystocia (due to large baby) and hypoglyceamia in the baby after birth.

So now I am starting to doubt my conviction that home would be best, as obviously I want the best for the baby as well as me .

They think i had gd, ds2 was 7lb 13.5oz at 36wks! labour was fine, easier than ds1 and no tearing, and ds1 was 2lb smaller.

cx

Magpie, no experience but just wanted to wish you luck.

You dont have to make a decision until your in labour though, have a bag packed for the hospital (advisable in a HB anyway) and labour at home for as long as you feel confortable, then transfer in if/when you want to.

Good luck. I am on call for a homebirth right now and cant wait!

Cx

Thanks Mossy

Hertsnessex, that's my plan

I have just had a meeting with my midwife and her supervisor, and they both seem ok with me carrying on planning a homebirth, which is great

The supervisor wants me to go up to the hospital again next week and have another growth scan and see the consultant, but I feel a lot more reassured after the meeting, which is the opposite of how I expected to feel!!

Hope it all goes well.

cx