Has anyone managed to induce labour before induction with gestational diabetes?

[TheBeesKnee]

I have GDM and an eviction order for 13 days' time. First baby and measuring 90th centile, so I've been booked in for 39 weeks on the dot.

I am dreading it and would love to labour at home as long as possible. Obviously no chance of that, I've been advised that once I come in I can't leave, even though we live 5 minutes walk from the hospital. They're going to start with a balloon for 24 hours and if that doesn't work pessary for 24 hours and if that fails drip. So I could be stuck on an induction ward for days by myself, it's making me feel very stressed with the lack of privacy and being away from home, which isn't helpful to getting oxytocin going.

I can't do the usual dates and pineapple because of my diabetes. So I'm just looking for a spec of hope, has anyone managed to get labour going before 39 weeks with gestational diabetes and how did you do it?

It feels even more hopeless because my due date was moved forward by 5 days compared to last period dates etc. so I could be as little as 38+2 on induction day.

No but I did walk as much as humanly possible in the week before my induction, literally just went out in the morning and waddled around for miles because my MW was adamant it was the best way to get baby in position and strengthen your thighs and hips for good pushing.

No idea if it was a direct consequence or coincidence but when it came to induction day (37 w 5d) I had the pessary inserted, waited around for 24 hrs, then they were able to break my waters. Everything ramped up quick from there and DD was born 4 and a half hours later after 2 pushes and while I was being transported on the bed from the ward to the delivery room.

Induction doesn't have to be a long, drawn out and horrible thing. You just hear more from people where it didn't go well than you do from people where it did.

Could you ask for some sweeps from 38 weeks?

I'm a bit behind you but my midwife has already agreed to sweeps every 2/3 days in the lead up to induction (if I need it). I think this may need to be signed off by a doctor but it's worth asking.

Raspberry leaf tea and sex is supposed to help.

Just FYI, you don't have to agree to an induction due to GDM, it is possible to have regular monitoring instead. This is completely up to you, I know if my doctor said I needed to be induced I wouldn't want to argue but ultimately you can decline an induction.

Try expressing colostrum. My midwife said it can encourage labour and not to do it before 37 weeks

I've had really poor luck with this. I've had a bit of moisture but nothing to collect really. I'll keep trying though.

I've no idea how dialated I am, I'll ask at my next appointment if it's possible. Thanks.

I'm drinking 2 cups of RLT per day.

Had sex for the first time in 2 months the other night, apologies for the TMI but DP is very gentle and seems scared of hurting us. I'm hoping that the prostaglandins will do something!

I had gestational diabetes too and being 44 I was told I'd be induced early, so also was out to try everything. Unfortunately the usual tips, lots of sex, lots of walking, sniffing at clary sage (I was desperate..), a gestational diabetes friendly dates, nuts and cocoa recipe I found as dates are meant to help, didn't work. I tried to have sweeps done but the hospital was too understaffed. As it was, they monitored me and ended up only booking me in for the day after my due date, and then when we got there, they were so busy they gave me the pessary and then sent us home as we were only 5 minutes away even though when we'd asked about that initially, they'd said if it was just my age or just gd, then maybe, but absolutely no way with both. But then they did! So you can always ask? Contractions started the following morning so we went back to hospital and they still sent us out for more walking to push things along that day, and baby came the next day, so it wasn't the awful induction horror story I'd been dreading.
Good luck!

I've known people be able to go home with the balloon fitted until it falls out or labour starts. I'd definitely be asking about that if it comes to it. Keeps you out of the hospital for a bit longer that way. Only possible for the non hormonal methods or baby needs monitoring for signs of distress.

Squats, sex, bouncing on a ball and nipple stimulation are the only things I've found midwives actually say work. Clary sage oil and semen can both help to soften the cervix and prepare for labour

Can't say that I actually induced it as I doubt there's a way to actually do that. I think all methods are old wives' tales. But I did DTD that morning, which wasn't something we were doing a lot by that point, so who knows! That afternoon he was here!

Meant to add i had GD and i was 38+5

@TheBeesKnee expressing is really hard (in my experience) and could only get 0.1ml out at first!

Hi, I'd encourage bouncing bouncing bouncing as often as you can on an exercise ball. I swapped my office chair out for one as I was working up until 37 weeks. Also took evening primrose oil capsules twice a day and red raspberry leaf tablets (the actual tea itself is better though I think but I just couldn't stomach it!) I also walked a lot.
I had an induction booked for the 28th Dec when I'd have been 38 weeks but my midwife agreed to a sweep on the 20th at 37+6 so that if it worked I could be in and home by Christmas. I was 2cm dilated when she did the sweep and DD was born the next day. I laboured at home the whole morning and it was so relaxed. My first two were fairly positive inductions so I wasn't too worried or trying to avoid induction, my midwife just suggested it to try and help me go naturally. So pleased she did. The sweep was uncomfortable but only as much as a smear test really. Think they only work though if the body is itself ready annoyingly so hopefully you've started to dilate a bit.

Sorry I would have been 39 weeks on the 28th. Baby was born at 38 weeks!

Hand expression does not need to produce colostrum to be effective in inducing labour. Doesn’t matter if you’re getting anything or not- the stimulation helps.
Just to add, if you’re having the balloon and they manage to get it in, they are very unlikely to need to do the pessary after as the balloon is extremely effective in opening your cervix enough for your waters to be broken. Seems a strange order though as it’s your first baby just to go straight for balloon. In my area they do pessary first and then balloon, for the pessary to get the cervix ready for the ballon

Unfortunately there is very little evidence for any of the "natural" induction methods. There is some evidence to indicate that sex and nipple stimulation can help, but IMO it will only really help encourage things along if baby is ready or very nearly ready. If you're at or before 39 weeks I think it's unlikely to work.

My advice is to educate yourself as much as possible before you go in for your induction. Write down any questions or anything you want to discuss with the midwife and/or obstetrician. Remember it is your choice and you need to make informed decisions.

Here are some links that you might find helpful:

https://www.aims.org.uk/information/item/induction

https://www.sarawickham.com/iol/

See https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-for-gestational-diabetes/

And https://www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/labor/induction/

My 5th baby was measuring above the 99th centile so I was booked in for an induction. I was making myself ill with worry over it! Went in for balloon catheter induction at 3pm but was already 2cm dilated so I asked for a sweep and to be sent home for the night instead. Which they agreed to. Woke up around 2am with very mild cramps. Noticed some bleeding so went to hospital at 5.30am . Checked and was told I was 7cm dilated and took straight to delivery suite where my waters spontaneously burst and I had baby 2 minutes later. Total of 10mins in delivery room and was holding baby by 6.13am.

I did labour induction workouts (YouTube), hypnobirthing podcasts, lots and lots of walking and TMI but we had sex a few hours before labour started.

best of luck to you.

I had a late diagnosis of GD (36 weeks - it was borderline and they weren’t actually sure I had it) and baby was measuring 96th centile.

I refused induction at 38 weeks. It was DC2 and DC1 had been big (8.5lbs at 42 weeks though I also suspected was really more like 41 weeks) so I knew that (a) my body was unlikely to be ready at 38 weeks and (b) I could give birth to a big baby.

I ended up having a sweep on my due date and they “accidentally” broke my waters. I was admitted as a result, labour didn’t start so they induced me with a pessary 24 hours later. Contractions started almost immediately and I had a lovely waterbirth and a sub 2 hour labour. Baby was 9lbs exactly so not massive.

Take medical advice but remember it is your decision. And inductions aren’t always awful and don’t always mean you can’t have eg a water birth or a good labour.

What gestation?
5th baby is usually a very different labour experience compared to 1st baby!

I was induced with my first at just under 38 weeks and it was fine. Pessary to baby was about 9 hours, water birth. Being induced isn't always awful.

Hi all. I’m 37+1 - due to be induced between 38+4 and 39 weeks for gestational diabetes that was diagnosed at 34w. My levels have been okay but slightly raised. When I went in to speak to my consultant on Friday she rushed through the whole appointment and all I got from it was that I could have all pain relief except water birth and that I’d be having the balloon- then I saw her leave. I’m waiting for a date but when my BP was done it was 150/78 and not retaken despite them telling me it should be- and I’ve been taking aspirin throughout my pregnancy until 36w for possible preeclampsia. I want to get it moved forward rather than 39 as they’re planning to review. Any advice on this or anyone been through this?