Feeling frustrated, need advice on being induced earlier

[Sussexgirlie5]

Apologies in advance this is about to be a long one but I just need someone to talk to! Feeling so frustrated and fed up.
I’m currently 37+4 and at 35 weeks I got told I’ve got gestational diabetes. So I’ve changed my diet and was given a test to do 3 times a day but I haven’t been doing it because I find the needle really painful. (I’ve got a phobia of needles). Now I also have hypermesis and have vomited for the whole 9 months and constant saliva. So as you can imagine I’m really just fed up. Spoke to the consultant and was hoping to get induced at 39 weeks but I’ve been told no I will be allowed to go on till 40+6 because baby is measuring fine. As you can imagine I’m so fed up n tired. My ribs hurt, my coccyx hurts, I’m still vomiting and haven’t enjoyed food for 9 months. Is there anything I can say to the consultant to induce me at 39 weeks please

Not sure there’s a way around this but I begged to be induced at 39 due to being so ill but they refused on the grounds the baby was fine (despite the fact I was ill!)

I think it’s because the NICE guidelines say 41 weeks unless clinically indicated but they only were bothered about the baby and not me

Are you on any antisickness meds?

Pregnancy is tough, I had PGP and it was miserable from 30 weeks onwards. I ended up going to 40+6.

To be honest having the later date gives you much more opportunity to go into spontaneous labour, which gives you a greater chance of a vaginal birth. If there are no concerns with your immediate health and/or baby then I don't think you will have much luck with asking for earlier IOL because you are uncomfortable.

Will your midwife do a sweep earlier? Mine offered a sweep from 38 weeks as long as not contra indicated by the consultant. Not guaranteed to work but some chance.

I am actually being pushed into an early induction on the basis of my 4x daily blood test results. I am not keen on needles so dh is doing most of the tests on me.

I assume the consultant knows you aren’t testing your sugars? One reason for early induction with GD is usually uncontrolled sugars or being medicated. I’m on insulin and I’ve been told that I will be induced around 38 weeks. I’m obviously not a medial professional but I don’t think they’d want to medicate you at this point if your bloods were uncontrolled. Even eating the right foods, you might still have uncontrolled sugars and the sickness might not be helping that because you’re not keeping anything in the system. The finger pricks are awful. Can you ask your partner to do it for you? Some trusts also do continuous monitoring devices. So the device is put in by the midwife/nurse, it’s a small needle that does sit in your arm but all you see is a plaster on your arm and a little device about the size of the top of your thumb. They’re not uncomfortable, are water-proof so you can still shower etc.

Have a look at ways of trying to spontaneously start labour. The ones that have some scientific evidence that suggest they work are colostrum harvesting, nipple stimulation and sex. All of these are safe to do with GD (unlike eating 70 million pineapples) although they might not be the most pleasant of experiences at the moment.

@FusciasBright21i was on anti sickness meds but they’ve stopped working now so I’ve just had to cope with it cos I’m in the last few weeks. Thanks for your help

@InTheNightWeWillWish hi, yes they know but the consultant basically threatened me and said if anything happened it’ll be my fault cos I’m not testing. So I’ve been asked to do the fasting test at a minimum, I’ve done it twice now and my levels have been good so I guess I’m managing the gd not sure. I’m really hoping I go into spontaneous labour before 40+6.. thanks for your help x

GD is hormone related. It’s not your fault. You could be testing and still have uncontrolled bloods. As it’s hormone related your bloods could be giving you highs one day and lows the next. The same meal can give you very different readings depending on what your hormones are doing, how well you’ve slept, how active you’ve been, how you’re feeling emotionally. I’ve been diagnosed for 11 weeks now and my readings aren’t too bad and I can tolerate most food but I’ve still had days of really low readings and really high readings. I got a high (just on the threshold) this evening for my dinner. It’s a meal I’ve eaten several times before with no issues but today my body hasn’t processed it as well today for some reason. That’s not my fault. It’s not your fault if something happens either. Rather than threatening you, they should be working with you to find alternatives. If there was a concern for baby, they’d induce you.

Can you speak to the diabetic team rather the consultant about alternatives to testing with the finger pricks?