Gestational diabetes - give me some good news!

[TheBoots]

I'm currently 18 weeks into my second pregnancy, had insulin-dependent GD with my 1st, so higher risk this time. Low and behold, I've got it again.

I'm fine with this, the diet is fine, I exercise every day and if I need insulin no problem either. What I am worried about is being induced again!

With my first the induction took 5 days and ended in forceps and episiotomy. I was hoping to get the more natural birth this time round but now I'm worried I'll be going through that palaver again! Has anyone got a positive story of having a natural birth with GD?

I had diet controlled GD both times. Induced at termBoth times. First time round - pessary in a 4pm, mild contractions early the next morning, waters broken by midwife at 8am, syntocin at noon, hooked up to a monitor all afternoon, pethedine at 5, baby here at 6.30pm.

Second time round, pessary at 4pm, sudden strong contractions at 5am the next morning, all done and dusted with no intervention at all 2hrs later at 7am. So much faster and less hassle second time round - but I’m not going to lie, it was more painful and slightly shocking as I was expecting it to take all day again. However, I’d take more sore but faster anytime!

Good luck!

Following as I'm a FTM at 34 weeks with GDM.

Baby currently breech, and debating whether I actually want her to turn at this stage, whether to take an ECV if she doesn't, or just plan for ELCS.

@Ohdeariedear that's good to hear that things progressed more quickly the second time around! I'm hoping that as my body has been through it before it'll be easier this time around.

@EllieGolightly hope you get the birth you want, nearly there now!

I had GD and wasn’t induced as she arrived at 36+6 naturally! However I did look at the rules carefully as I wanted to avoid early induction if I could.

I believe if you can manage it with diet alone then they will wait longer before wanting to induce. Diet managed means induce at 40 weeks ( or maybe even 40+5 I think under new rules?) rather than 38 weeks. So if you can avoid medication, that gives your body longer to hopefully go into labour naturally. I believe the labour itself is less “medicalised” too (eg no insulin drip) if you have been managing with diet alone.

I managed mine with diet - I was really strict, zero sugar or wheat, almost zero other carbs, regular high protein/high fat snacks in between meals (I ate a lot of nuts) to keep blood sugar levels regular. Appreciate it depends how severe your GD is though.

That's what I'd hope to do @minipie but last time we couldn't get my fasting BG under control no matter what I'd eaten or done the night before! Hoping that as we've got it earlier this time and I've been exercising regularly that maybe this time I can stay diet controlled...fingers crossed!!

Ah the morning fasting one is really tricky isn’t it! I was lucky that wasn’t an issue for me. Some people have luck with a very late dinner or midnight snack but others don’t. Good luck!

Have you joined the gestational diabetes UK Facebook page and the website! Lots of support and people sharing their experiences re birth choices etc!
Also the recipes are fab! 😀
I was induced at 37+4 as my baby was measuring small (another complication of GD) induction did take a couple of days but when they broke my waters she came 5 hours later.

I was induced at 37 weeks in my last two pregnancies and 39 weeks for the one before due to gd. I was on metformin for the last 2 and was in for 3 days before induction was started due to having steroid injections for their lungs but once I was induced through pessary and waters broken, I have given birth naturally within 12 hours. I did have drips in both arms and had insulin administered but I didnt need forceps and had epidurals and was still able to change positions from on my back to kneeling over bed rest etc. All labour's are different, it's never going to be pleasant, if you get growth scans they can track the weight and you can make a more informed decision closer to time
My biggest was 8.10oz so I was able to push him out without the need of intervention. If any had been measuring around 9-10 lbs, I would have asked for a c section to be on the safe side.

I had GD and was induced at 38+0. Just wanted to reassure you that it was really positive though, one lot of gel and then they manually broke my waters. I gave birth 2 hours 40 mins later, did it all on just gas and air, no forceps or other interventions, and that was with a back to back baby.

Thank you for these positive stories. I'm being induced on Tuesday at 39+1 due to GD & baby measuring 8lb at 37+3 weeks. I cant have an epidural so hoping I don't need the drip, but finding it reassuring that some people have had the drip and not needed an epidural anyway.

Had GD twice, managed with super strict diet control and exercise. Two natural births - one 40w+6 (the midwife broke my waters which was enough so I didn’t need medical inducing) and the second was 39w + not sure how many days (2nd child!) and again induction didn’t need to go beyond waters being broken.
I was very active throughout both pregnancies and clearly remember swimming >250m the day before my second was born. I was also an “old” mother second time around - in my 40s. Just gas and air both times, very lucky.