Gestational Diabetes/Large Baby = Early Delivery?

[littlemissminor]

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with GD and the baby is measuring over the 95th Centile. I am taking medication for the GD. Does anyone have any experience of this please - were you induced early/have an early c section?

If anyone has any experiences in the North Bristol Trust, that would be great too! Thanks all

How far gone are you atm?

@hlo91 I am 35+4 at the moment. Have another growth scan and consultant appointment on Thursday

Most things they want to try and wait until 37 weeks. I am being induced tomorrow at 37+6 cos they needed to wait for results to come back.
Any health issues.. you won't go full term (40) they will induce at 37/38 ... especially GD. I have OC on my liver so that's why I am

I am 38 +4 with GD and being induced on Monday. I live in China though and they are v keen on inductions here

That's really interesting, thanks both! I have had 4 episodes of reduced movement recently so worried about that on top of the GD/Large Size/Birth Plan!

Just keep going in if you have reduced movements
Don't feel silly
And don't believe anyone that s movements should slow down x

I have gd although mine is diet controlled and I'm not being induced until 40+6 (Tuesday). What medication are you on? In my trust i don't think you get an early delivery unless you're on insulin- they said to me even if I ended up on metformin I could go to 40+6!

I've been in for the reduced movements every time - pretty sure they are sick of me

@MrFlibblesEyes - which trust is that? I can't believe how much everything varies around the country!!

If you keep having reduced movements they may consider an induction at 36/37 weeks. You need to talk to your consultant

I had GD baby was measuring fine but I was still induced at 38 weeks. DS arrived 38+3 weighing in at 7b 2oz.
They might induce you earlier than 38 weeks.
I also had episodes of reduced movements but they didn't induce me for that as baby was wriggling around fine when he was on the monitor, typical 🙈

To add I was on metformin x3 daily.

Thanks all - annoyingly despite sticking to the diet and taking Metformin, my numbers are getting worse! Has anyone had this?

Yes that's when they upped mine to 3 metformin a day. One in the morning and 2 at night.
If that wasn't going to bring them down they were going to put me on insulin. Thankfully it was fine!
Have you tried swapping things like white pasta to brown pasta etc?

I'm hoping I don't have to go on insulin!! Yes, made all the swaps etc but just going up! Have left a message with the diabetes team so hopefully will hear back today!

I was induced at 38 weeks twice for GD I was on metformin x 3 a day first baby was 9lb 110z second was 8lb 7oz as my control of sugars was much better. I had to not eat carbohydrates as much as possible any rice/pasta/potatoes/cereals/bread sent my sugars high.

I've completely cut carbs but not getting better! Just spoken to the Diabetes team and they have upped my Metformin and say it's likely to be insulin from Thursday!

I didn’t have GD but I did have a baby who was measuring large for dates. I was induced at 39+3. I did end up with a section in the end, but not because of her size.

I've just been induced for similar reasons with North Bristol. I was diet controlled for GD (have you been using the gestational diabetes UK website and pairing foods? Might help if you've already cut carbs)

I was induced at 39+5 - originally scheduled for 39+2 but they had several surgical emergencies which delayed things. They were reluctant to induce earlier than 39 weeks or for a C-section as diabetes can affect wound healing.

I would say try not to worry about it - I was one of several in this situation while I was in and we all came through it fine and the staff are really lovely and supportive. They will talk you through the induction process and support you with your choices at every stage. My induction took 5 days from having the initial pessary but that because there was a delay in being able to break my waters as there was no room in delivery due to emergencies and I had a couple of days in between with nothing happening.

Which hospital are you going to? Check what the food options are like for GD so you can take things like peanut butter, high protein yogurts (Lidl own are good) and berries to supplement what's on offer. I found breakfast challenging as it was toast and cereal. Take plenty of stuff to pass the time in case you are delayed.

Pain relief - take it. If you think you might want an epidural let them know as soon as you move to delivery so they can assess you early so there are no delays when you decide you want it. If you then don't need it that's great you haven't lost anything. The advantage of induction is you are monitored throughout the whole process and can get strong pain relief early if needed.

Oh and DC was a lb lighter than estimated so don't panic.

My goodness, thank you for such a detailed reply!!!

The GD is an absolute life saver, the midwife reccommended I used it rather than the NHS stuff she gave me, which I thought was great!

I ended up in the assessment unit last night and I am now on Metformin and Insulin.

I had an induction with my first (not in Bristol), and it was absolutely horrendous and we nearly lost her so I am desperate to avoid an induction and skip straight to a section if possible!!

I think my anxiety is getting the better of me!

I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and have had bad GD that I'm on metformin twice a day and insulin 4 times a day. However baby is measuring average so thats good. My levels were also high because of hormones, Diabetic nurse predicted I was having girl due to my high readings.
I hoping to find out on Thursday when I'm going to be induced and I hope it's soon. My obstetrician told me I will have to be induced as there is a high risk of still births with GD even if the baby is a normal size which I didn't know about until about 3weeks ago, the midwife only told me about the size of the baby being an issue with GD.

@greeneyedlulu - I had no idea that was the case!!

In South Wales.

Although I didn’t have GD (or was never tested for it I suppose), I was measuring ahead from very early on. I saw one consultant who said that women don’t make baby’s that they can’t birth and that “medium sized people will make medium sized baby’s”. Baby was off the charts at growth scan at 37 weeks at which point a different (female) consultant booked me in for a section at 39 weeks. The risks of shoulder dystocia and a distressed baby were too high for her and she strongly recommended a section.

He was born 39+1 at 11lb 6ozs. Like you, I would have rather have a planned section rather than a failed induction and then an emergency.

Littlemissminor - I was surprised at that too as no one had mentioned it til then. I was being very sceptical about being induced as I was in for 7 days with ds with an induction so I really don't want to do that again. I asked the obstetrician that if baby is showing as being a normal size during all my sizing scans then would I be allowed to just let nature run it's course etc and she said no, the national advice for women with GD is to be induced due to a higher risk of still birth. She did say the chances are low but higher than someone without GD.

Thank you all for your lovely words of wisdom!!

Had my last growth scan today (36+2), he is an estimated 8lb11 and C-Section booked for 38 weeks