Diabetes/large abdominal circumference - please help!

[Cuppasoupmonster]

I’m 33 weeks tomorrow and type 1 diabetic. Baby’s abdominal measurement is off the chart despite very good blood sugars. He’s currently 5lb6, 90th centile overall with average size legs/head. It’s just the stomach that is very large.

My last baby was induced and born at 37+0 but was an average size all over and 6lb5. Even then I needed a forceps delivery.

I met with the obstetrician on Tuesday and am booked for induction at 37+0 again, but she also said they’re legally obliged to offer me a CS.

Which one would you take in my position? She seems to think the fact I’ve given birth vaginally before and that he will be a few weeks early means it’ll be fine but I can’t stop worrying about shoulder dystocia.

Any stories or advice very welcome, thanks x

Remember your chart is specific to you. 90th on your chart means big for you not big generally as a perfect example I had a scan at 34 weeks today and told baby is under 10th percentile so I will have csection at 37 weeks but they are predicted to weigh 5lb1oz. I chose csection as had failed induction before which resulted in a emergency csection.

Can't help with the type 1 as I had GD, but my first delivery was also a 6lber but needed s ventouse and episiotomy. Second baby was a bit bigger - induced - but didn't need any assistance apart from G&A and only had a couple of stitches. Very easy. Personally I would say go for the induction because the recovery is so much easier and because you're type 1 you're going to be monitored so closely throughout

Hmmm. Talk to them. Talk to your Dh. Make sure you decide now what you are and what you are not ok with.
T1 all my life. Both times I was told ds's were large. They weren't particularly. I had lots of fluid, they were both 7lb. Had planned cs for both.
Wish you all the best.

I'm not diabetic but my first was measuring really big, they said 12lbs...I was refused a CS, she was born 9lbs 2 oz so not quite as big as they said!

Hello
I've been T1 diabetic since I was 3 years old. I've got 4 children (1 who is now T1 diabetic ).
Anyway, all my babies measured big and I was scared stiff, but the biggest one was 6lb10 at 38 weeks! My consultant said to me once (after the sonographer scared me senseless) that the shape of 'diabetic' babies can throw the measurements off - they tend to lay down a little more fat on their tummies and shoulders as you know (which disappears soon after birth), but this throws the growth scan results off as it then makes out the baby is bigger as a whole, not just the tummy/shoulders.
He also said that as soon as a sonographer knows you're diabetic, they become very generous with the measurements.
My most inaccurate one estimated my daughter was 5lb at 32 weeks pregnant. Every growth scan after that showed her as a giant.... She was born at 37 weeks pregnant weighing 5lbs 2

Re. C-sections. I had a c-section for all 4 of mine as induction failed for baby 1 and 2.

@hellosunshineagainxxx it doesn't mean big for you. It means big. 90th centile means if you compared all babies at this gestation, this baby would be bigger than 90% of the others. That’s how centiles work.

Thanks everyone. It’s hard to know what to decide. On one hand I like the ‘certainty’ of a CS but on the other I don’t want to jump at surgery when the doctors recommend something else. I’ll wait for the last scan and see what it throws
up, I’m hoping the growth will slow down a bit 😐

Not quite the same situ but my baby was measuring big all over and his weight was off the scale. No diabetes but my husband is very tall so shouldn’t have been a huge surprise. I was offered an induction and c-section. They recommended I had an epidural on arrival if I had a c section as the anticipated issues like should distoychia and said they would need a midwife will experience of delivery babies like this. I decided on a c-section. I weighed up the risks and went with this. I’d previously birthed a “bigger” baby but she was under 9lb’s and 42 weeks. My DS arrived via section at 39+4 and was 9lb 15 and I don’t for a minute regret my section. Recovery isn’t a walk in the park but I’m fine now and very at peace with my decision.

Saying that my friend has had 3 inductions with GD babies and no issues! It’s such a personal choice. You need to peace with your decision, there is no right or wrong.

Sorry sleep deprived brain. The recommended an epidural on arrival if I had an INDUCTION

When I had a scan at 36 weeks, dc2's tummy was identified as enormous. The midwife told me not to worry as tummies are squishy. He was my best / easiest birth of all 3 by a long way. He was 8lb 13oz at just under 37 weeks.