Gestational diabetes

[LE21]

I've recently been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I'm on insulin four times a day and checking my levels 7 times daily. This is my first baby and I'm just curios to hear of other woman's birth experiences with gestational diabetes. I have been told I have a higher chance of waters breaking early and am also being considered for an induction at 38 weeks I'm currently 30 weeks.

Hi, I had gd in my last 3 pregnancies. I was induced at 39 weeks with the first and at 36 with the other two. I had poly something with the second which meant I had masses of amniotic fluid which is something that can happen with gestational diabetes. My stomach was enormous, it stuck out about a foot 😂. As the baby was only 36 weeks when I was being induced I was brought in for steroid injection for his lungs and then I had a few sweeps, my waters were broken and put on a drip to start the contractions. I won't lie, it was not a pleasant experience. I had 2 children with natural labour and deliveries previous to the gd pregnancies so could compare the different types of labours. All the children were admitted to special care for different amounts of time due to the complications related to the diabetes such as low blood sugars and all three had jaundice, but they are all healthy robust children now with no ill effects. I would recommend trying to manage your diet as best you can to support your sugar levels and be aware that the baby might need extra support initially which can be scary but it's only temporary. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask

For me the main thing was having a big baby on my scans! At 36w I was offered an ELCS which I took as baby was measuring 9lb+. DS arrived at 39w by c section at 10lb 3

@Dontknowwhyidoit can I ask when exactly they diagnosed the extra fluid? I had a growth scan and was told I had a lot of fluid but nothing else was said after. They did say about the baby being monitored for 24 hours post birth so I will try prepare for that. I actually have been eating so well since I found out I was pregnant and have only gained 4 pound at week 30 as I was trying to avoid GD since my sister had it however hers was diet controlled and was diagnosed very late in the pregnancy so she didn't require insulin and had no real issues thankfully

@orangejuicer wow that was a big baby I'm glad baby was healthy though. I would probably take an elcs too if offered for the same reasons as yourself I'm hoping my doctor talks to me more about my options soon

There's the gestational diabetes uk Facebook page which is great for food advice etc.

I had it with both pregnancies. First pregnancy it was manageable with diet & exercise. I didn't need insulin, just tested 7 times per day and stuck to a strict diet. I actually lost weight while pregnant thanks to the diet. There was no major concern for DS's size, he was measuring slightly above average percentile around his belly. My blood pressure was high a number of times during the pregnancy so I was monitored closely. I ended up with preeclampsia so was induced at 38 weeks which ended with emergency C section. DS was 7lb 3oz but 2 weeks early so I wasn't expecting him to be too big. I had issues with blood pressure for 6 weeks following the birth and required medication. But diabetes basically disappeared immediately after the birth, both mine and DS blood sugars were perfectly normal following the birth.

2nd pregnancy was different; despite me following the exact same strict diet as first pregnancy, I couldn't control blood sugars with diet alone so needed insulin 4 times per day (after each meal and a larger dose at night) DD was measuring bigger all the way through, 80-90 percentile but was still deemed A ok. As was I, I had no blood pressure issues this time and aside from needing insulin, my doc was even happy for me to attempt VBAC as the pregnancy was deemed text book/ normal given that DD wasn't too big, no blood pressure issues, plenty of movement, no protein in urine etc. I was allowed to go 7 days overdue and all was A ok until 40+2 when I had a scan which showed I had extra fluid so ended up being admitted for a few nights for monitoring and then having elective c section at exactly 41 weeks. I was told that the extra fluid was a concern as if my waters broke, baby was at risk of moving into the wrong/breech position. DD was 9lb 3oz but both of us A ok and both our blood sugar levels perfectly normal following delivery.

From about 30 weeks my stomach was measuring way past it should and they thought he was going to be a really big baby but the growth scans every week showed it was to much fluid as opposed to massive baby. He was 8 lbs 1 oz at 36 +4 days gestation. When they broke my waters which was an augmented procedure where they maneuver the baby into position and press the head down into the canal to prevent the cord being pulled down with the waters. They put a bucket down and I still soaked the floor, if it hadn't been so uncomfortable it would have been funny.

I had GD and had to use insulin too. I had to have extra growth scans. They told me DD would be massive and so they tried to induce me at 38 weeks. DD wasn't budging so ended up with a c section. DD was only 6lb 13 not not big at all! She had no complications and diabetes went away :)

Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy and birth :)

I had GD and induced at 38 weeks. DS arrived 38+3.
I was on x3 metformin. DS weighed 7lb 2oz.
I thought I had to stay in 24 hours aswell but DS had his bloods done after birth about 6pm then 12am and I was discharged at 10am.
I had my waters broken and they mentioned I had a lot of water.
As soon as I gave birth I didn't need to take metformin anymore but 6 weeks after the birth I had to have a blood test to see if I was still diabetic.