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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone had gestational diabetes or giant babies and had a good labour?

23 replies

kate1516 · 15/02/2016 15:07

Had a difficult first labour. Big baby and back to back so got stuck. Epidurals didn't work and have been told they aren't an option this time around for me.

Found out today my baby is measuring big so having a gestational diabetes check later in the week.

Having a big baby again has pretty much been my ongoing worry so having it confirmed has shaken me a bit so looking for positive stories please.

Also any tips on how to avoid back to back again would be good.

OP posts:

novemberchild · 15/02/2016 15:18

DS weighed 10lb. I did have an epidural, though. It was a very peaceful labour with minimal pain. Bad tear, though.

Assquatch · 15/02/2016 15:35

Stay upright, gravity will help. My small baby was epidural, ventous, episiotomy, stitches and sore for a very long time. My big 9lb6 (I'm a tiny 5ft small build gestational diabetes ) fell out very fast no pain relief and healed very well. Obviously every person and birth is different but stay upright as much as possible. If think my small one was so bad as I had the epidural and then was stuck laying down not being able to move. Good luck

zzzzz · 15/02/2016 15:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

kate1516 · 15/02/2016 19:43

Thanks. I had to lie flat most of last time and it definitely didn't help so hopefully will be able to keep upright this time.

OP posts:

Gracey79 · 15/02/2016 19:46

I had a 9lb3 back to back no pain relief at all, wasn't allowed g&a and arrived too late for anything else quick labour only 20 mins pushing. Several midwives told me it's easier to birth a big baby due to gravity and they apparently have more 'fight' to them. Good luck

BifsWif · 15/02/2016 19:47

My first was 9lb, back to back, great labour.

Second baby was over 11lb, I was due to be induced at 40+5 but delivered before then. Lovely labour again, but a forcep delivery. My worst nightmare but honestly, it was fine. Healed well, and less pain than the stitches I had due to a tear first time around.

Bigger babies can be easier to birth apparently, stay upright and let gravity work its magic if you can

sillyoldfool · 15/02/2016 19:54

My second one was back to back, 10lb3 and it was hard no drugs, but that was just me being scared of drugs after a bad pethidine experience the first time round. My third was well positioned and 11lb8 and easier than my first who was a teeny 8lb4. Just had g&a for her number 3.
It's all down to the position of the baby imo.
Have you seen the spinning babies website? Lots of exercises that I think helped in there. Basically no sitting on the sofa, lots of all fours with your bum in the air!

frangipani13 · 15/02/2016 19:55

Have they done a growth scan? I only ask as I had a couple due to GD and my LO was much smaller than they estimated (5lbs 12) was induced at 39 weeks. If you are as well ask for mobile epi and monitoring if available I was laying flat which didn't help at all. Bigger babies are reputed to be easier to deliver due to gravity!

sillyoldfool · 15/02/2016 19:57

I had to lie flat for dd2, who was back to back, it was so they could do the 'mcroberts manoeuvre' which they do in case of shoulder dystocia.

sillyoldfool · 15/02/2016 20:00

Dd3 really was a great labour btw, I was worried it would be awful after my experience with dd2, but it was great, empowering, and 11lb8 of baby is a lot easier to handle afterwards than a little one I think.

Original poster

kate1516 · 15/02/2016 20:01

I had a scan today which is what made them think i may have gd as my baby is measuring big. I know they can get it wrong quite easily so hopefully he isn't giant. It's just the thing I have been worrying about after last time but your stories are all helping a lot actually. Now I am thinking maybe the first time round was difficult because of it being my first time plus lying flat so much and not just his size. Thank you all.

OP posts:

sillyoldfool · 15/02/2016 20:03

I tried to remember that although dd2 had been big, and badly positioned, and I'd been stuck on a monitor etc etc, I'd still done it! I'd proved to my self I could, and if I could do it with dd2, (and dd1 who was induced) then I could do anything.

minipie · 15/02/2016 20:09

Best you can do to avoid back to back is to make sure you sit and lie in good positions during the last month or so of pregnancy.

You don't want to slump or lean backwards or lie on your back. The baby's spine is the heaviest past and if you lean back then gravity makes the baby's spine swing round towards yoir back.

Instead you want to spend lots of time leaning forward and ideally a bit of time on all fours. Sitting on a birthing ball/exercise ball is great as you can't lean back on those.

See the Spinning Babies website.

As regards GD: if you are diagnosed with GD then bear in mind you may well be induced (GD increases risk of stillbirth if going too far beyond term). And you will also be more heavily monitored which may reduce your mobility a bit. I'd be inclined to ask for an epidural given those factors. You'll also have a late growth scan so will have a better idea of size - if the baby looks huge they may recommend a CS.

LadyPenelope68 · 15/02/2016 20:13

Two babies, both back to back, weighing 10lb 3oz and 10lb 11oz. Both very fast labours, so fast only managed to have gas and air and just small tear with one and small episiotomy with the other. Definitely keep as upright as possible st all times, I even gave birth kneeling up.

RandomMess · 15/02/2016 20:16

I'm 5' baby #2 was 10lb 6oz (no GD just a tall partner) it was fine, epidural wasn't fully effective and the only way I could cope with the pain was to kneel up I refused to lay flat on my back.

#3 and #4 were a little smaller again I knelt up etc. and refused continuous monitoring.

They were all fine it was only with my 1st titchy 7lber that I got a nick.

I was induced with all of mine so I like to show everyone that it doesn't have to be a cascade of intervention!

unimaginativename13 · 15/02/2016 20:17

How many weeks are you?

If your first baby was big then you should have been flagged up to have a GTT from 28 weeks as to not leave it to late.

I had GD, I controlled it very well, diet and insulin and had a 7lb 2oz baby.

If it's controlled there is not reason to have a whopper.

siscaza · 15/02/2016 20:19

DS was 10lbs and labour was 2.5hrs, home birth in a pool. Fabulous :)

sillyoldfool · 15/02/2016 20:20

No GD here, just make enormous babies!

Stroan · 15/02/2016 20:30

I had GD and a 10lb 3oz baby.

I was induced as I had a cold and couldn't breathe (combination of cold and size of baby). But it was a very positive experience. I spent as much of the induction walking around the hospital as I could, or bouncing on a ball.

In active labour, after my waters were broken, I stayed on my feet apart from a couple of hours early on where I had some diamorphine to help me sleep. Aside from that, I just had TENS and Gas and air.

Baby was monitored using a scalp clip - partly so I could stay active and partly because she wouldn't stay still to be monitored any other way.

I only pushed for a matter of minutes before she was born. She did have shoulder dystocia and was a little stuck so had to get the emergency team in to help. But everything was fine - I put most of that down to being up and active.

Original poster

kate1516 · 15/02/2016 21:07

I am 32 weeks. My first was only 9 lb which compared to you all isn't big really but they said his size and his position got him stuck. I have no history of family diabetes and was assessed as low risk so no testing until now. Might not have it now. They are just taking precautions I think.

OP posts:

RomiiRoo · 15/02/2016 21:15

DS was 10lb 2, no GD. I had a horrendous delivery being on my back with my first baby (9lb) and hallucinating on gas and air, so I was determined to be mobile and no drugs.
I used a birth ball in the earlier stages, and kneeling for last stages, and delivered him on my back, no drugs, no tears - massive head so crowning was quite hard work, the rest was much better than my first baby.
All the best

unimaginativename13 · 15/02/2016 21:21

I had no history but my BMI was slightly over the range and I was also told if you had a history of a big baby then you got tested, anyway I had it and it resulted in an induction but no big baby!

What did you measure at 32weeks?

Original poster

kate1516 · 15/02/2016 21:32

The scan estimate is he is measuring at 35 week size at 32 weeks. He is on the 97th percentile for abdominal circumference and head size. Don't have the chart in front of me but he was something like 5 lb 8 already

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