Gestational diabetes and home birth

[Mumtobemel]

Has anyone had a home birth with gestational diabetes? I’m 16 weeks and I’ve been identified as slight risk of GD (BMI of 30). I have awful medical phobia (not great when you’re pregnant!) which I’m going to be receiving counselling, and is the main reason I’ve always wanted a home birth. My midwife is encouraging it, even though it’s my first baby. I wasn’t initially concerned about GD - I eat quite healthily and exercise 4 times a week (HIIT & running). However, at my most recent midwife appointment my urine test showed high glucose. Midwife wasn’t too concerned and just said that they’ll check again next time. I’ve been trying so hard to stay healthy but I’m now worrying I’m starting to develop GD. I can see home home birth slipping away! I’ve done my research and from what I can see GD means you have to have a hospital birth. I just want to know all my options, as I can manage my anxiety better when I’m prepared, and so I asked the midwife - she said I can definitely still have a home birth if I develop GD and not to worry at all, they just put extra checks in place? Has anyone got any experience with this? Is this right?

I don't think you'll be able to if diagnosed with GD as baby will have to be monitored after birth. Don't worry about the high glucose though, I had it twice in my first pregnancy and once in this pregnancy and don't have GD. It could just be down to something you have eaten that is still in your system.

Thank you! That’s what I thought, and was so confused when midwife said I could still have a home birth with I develop GD. I’m wondering now if she said it to calm my nerves, as she knows I’m currently suffering real anxiety over going into hospital for any reason, and she’s probably thinking we can revisit it if/when it happens. I did have a cheese toasty pretty much directly before doing the sample, so that may have been it! It just really threw me that my glucose was high. Your experience is really reassuring, thank you!

I think gd probably would mean a hospital birth but like previous posters said, you haven't necessarily got it. I had a homebirth with my first baby 7 years ago and the stats then were something like 50% of first timers having a homebirth end up needing to transfer to hospital for one reason or another. I did have my baby at home but then had to transfer in for stitches in theatre and an overnight stay so I think it would be wise to prepare, as homebirth doesn't mean no hospital. Best of luck.

Okay so lots of women have a random episode of glucose in their urine in pregnancy - just a one off and all OK.

Yes you are at a very slight increased risk but the BMI of 30 is right on the cusp and you sound healthy. Without any other risk factors (family history etc) your risk is small, although yes admittedly slightly increased.

Recent research shows that if diagnosed with GDM in but no medication is required and blood sugars remain really stable, and there is NO issues with babies growth, then risks associated with delivery and fetal risks are the same as a non GDM population. That said, there is usually a hypoglycaemia policy in place to check babies blood sugars after delivery for a period of time.

You have options.
First of all try not to worry about mode of delivery u til you actually have a glucose test and know either way.
You always have the choice of a home birth regardless of if some HCP say otherwise. It’s always your choice as long as you know the risks.
IF you are found to have GDM and all is stable but you’d prefer to be in hospital so babies blood sugars are to be monitored postnatally, You could ask about an alongside birth centre which is normally much less medicalised than an obstetric unit.

Remember you have options, don’t rule anything out and try not to be anxious over this when actually nothing has happened yet. Enjoy your pregnancy

If you look on the gd website then there's a section on it. Just because you have a bmi of 30 doesn't mean you're gonna get it. It seems very random who does. The severity of it also depends on if you can have a home birth. If it's diet controlled and stable no reason you can't. If you need insulin your probably need to be in the hospital