Gestational Diabetes - Large Baby

[AR23]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently 37 weeks pregnant and have gestational diabetes. It's managed via metformin and 1 dose of insulin (of 4 units) at night.

My readings have been fairly good, and the growth scans have been good up until week 35, baby's growth was consistent and hadn't reached the top two lines on the growth chart page which represent large babies.

However I just had my most recent scan today at 37 weeks and the sonographer told me that if they look at the baby's weight, then it is still normal compared to average, but when plotted on the chart (in relation to my weight and height), it's now hit the lowest of the two upper lines...which according to my height and weight is a bit big.

I am being induced at bang on week 38, In terms of llbs, baby's expected to weigh 6.9pounds (about 3.14kg). Just wondering who has had large babies yet had a vaginal delivery? I'm just getting a bit panicky now.

Are you sure of that weight because that’s not anywhere near a large baby, even at 38 weeks.

That's definitely not a big baby - it's a good healthy size but not big. My first was 3.6kg normal vaginal delivery. They're not actually concerned too much with overall expected weight, but they look at abdominal circumference as a big abdomen is increased risk of shoulder dystocia. I have GD now and am having a section due to big abdomen and polyhydraminios. Also, my fasting levels have been up this week and I wonder if I need a small amount of insulin at night (only 6 more nights to go). On max metformin currently.

I had GD too and was on the exact medication as you: metformin and 1 dose of insulin (4 units). My daughter was born 7lb 1oz which is pretty average. I was induced bang on 38 weeks too: taken in on Tuesday 10 am, she was born Thursday 10pm.

I ended up having an emergency C-section though - not because she was large, just because my pushing was going nowhere and her head had moved.

I think it's common practice in many hospitals to induce 38 weeks if mother is on insulin.

Growth scans are notorious for being inaccurate too, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on the numbers. As the pp said the main thing they measure for are an enlarged abdomen or head. I’d say 9+ lbs would be considered a big baby..

I birthed a ten pounder vaginally (assisted) and it was hard work but I recovered well.

Aww thanks all, that's reassuring. Yes she did say it wasn't large compared to the "average" BUT for my height and weight the baby was "large".

@thingymaboob I mainly had issues with fasting levels too, and so they put me on insulin at week 35 (just a small dose of 4 units before bed). I am also on the max dose of metformin, 1000mg with breakfast and dinner and my consultant said that the metformin was wearing off by the time it came to bedtime and so a dose of insulin should help. My fasting levels have definitely been under control since then. 6 more nights to go for me too! My GD was screened really early this time as it's my 2nd pregnancy and so it was picked up from around week 13, so it seems like such a looooong time for me, can't wait to go back to normal and stop with all the testing

I had gestational diabetes during both pregnancies with metformin

I had c sections but just for reference re big babies my first was 11 pound 10 ( boy) abs my second was 9 pound 1 ( girl)

I know things are a bit different with GD but I had a 10lb 6oz baby at home with no problems. I didn’t have GD though. My other babies were both born vaginally and were 7lb3 and 7lb11.

Good luck OP!

As others have said, that's not a big baby? I was induced at 38 weeks (no GD) and my baby was nearly 10lbs (and I'm a 9st shortarse).

I had a ten pounder at home, didn’t need stitches. I think it’s slightly different with GD as they can be a slightly different shape and more likely to get stuck. I don’t think weight has a massive part in whether you can birth it.

Do you have a very small pelvis?
My friend has a tiny, narrow pelvis.. which made her 7lb5 baby too big.

Your babies estimated weight is a good healthy weight for baby though.