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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Renewed fear of birth after Gestational Diabetes diagnosis

11 replies

Zibidee · 26/02/2022 21:51

I managed to reduce my fear of birth (pain, tearing, induction, internals, emergencies etc) by doing lots of research on natural births, water births, hypnobirthing, positions in labour, The Thompson Method etc.
But last week I was diagnosed with GD and since then all my fears have come back, along with crying everyday and general low mood. I am now all consumed by fears of big babies, the phrase "we will induce you" regardless of my choice and knowing that my natural water birth plan will probably be off the table.
I'm now deliberating requesting a c-section, just to avoid going through the pain of induction and the uncertainty of it all.
Probably doesn't help I watched "This is going to hurt" on BBC to "educate" myself, and had the fear of should dystocia drilled into me!

Have others managed to control blood sugars sufficiently to avoid big babies, induction and c-section, even get in the water? I've managed to keep blood sugar between 4-8 all week but don't know if it gets worse as the weeks go on.

Any tips for reducing birth fear? I usually go with lots of planning and research but I'm acutely aware things just don't go to plan with birth so I don't think thats going to work this time.

OP posts:

ricketybeauty · 26/02/2022 21:56

There isn’t really a greater risk of shoulder dystocia with a big baby so if you don’t want to be induced for that reason then you shouldn’t feel pushed into it.

I do get you though, I had similar thrown at me in the last weeks of pregnancy and it just felt totally overwhelming having to think about and make decisions about things that you didn’t know you had to!

Hope you manage to keep calm and you don’t have long left.

lilmrschatty · 26/02/2022 22:05

I was diagnosed with GD, but my baby was actually the smallest of my children and exactly the average newborn weight. I went against medical advice to have a home water birth as I knew from scans the baby wasn't too big and that my blood sugars had been controlled. The birth went smoothly and I'd agreed to take the baby into the postnatal ward after for 12 hours of blood sugar monitoring. All the tests were normal. Obviously, it was extra stress at a time I didn't need it, but the whole thing went as well as it could have, so please try not to worry too much.

PurplePansy05 · 26/02/2022 22:19

Yes, I have.

Deep breaths, OP. Keep up the good work with your diet, don't be disheartened if you need to go on meds either. I had to start metformin despite my best efforts but overall it's helped me. You could end up taking metformin or insulin.

Now, you need to have regular growth scans - these will monitor your baby's size. You also need a word with your consultant at around 36 wks or earlier if possible regarding your delivery choices. I would say, personally I did not want to be induced at all for a variety of reasons and I chose to have a planned section. You have to be provided with options and choose the best one for you and your baby. FWIW, my son wasn't born huge, he was taller than expected, but also slimmer because the scans aren't spot on (and usually indicate babies are bigger than they actually are).

I would 1000% have another planned section. I had awful issues and trauma after several miscarriages before and could not think of anything worse than an induction or a possible EMCS. My anxiety was through the roof as I didn't trust my body and I was petrified I'd have a stillbirth, that DS would be stuck and suffocate, that something will go seriously wrong. So I have a lot of sympathy for you

It's not easy but please do what you can to stay calm. Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels and baby movements. Walk every day. Keep up a good diet. Read up on delivery options. Make sure you have growth scans and a good discussion with your obstetrics consultant and your diabetes team. It will be ok

Don't forget you will need a fasting glucose test 6-13 weeks post partum too.

Wishing you all the best, OP xx

PurplePansy05 · 26/02/2022 22:21

Sorry, I just saw your question was also about avoiding a CS, well this obviously wasn't me, however a planned section was an excellent choice for me and DS and if you want to know more then please shout (and don't be scared) xx

Phormiumjester · 26/02/2022 22:23

I had GD and an induction with DS1. You'll find what keeps your sugars on track - was a lot of filled fresh pasta and broccoli and Linda McCartney sausages! But ds was 7lb 10oz and all was well.
You'll get in your groove with it. Try not to panic x

PurplePansy05 · 26/02/2022 22:23

Don't watch that BBC show either, I watched it recently nearly 7 months after the birth and it brought back so much of my previous trauma it was god awful and I never want to see any of it again! xx

ablisha · 26/02/2022 22:28

@Zibidee

I managed to reduce my fear of birth (pain, tearing, induction, internals, emergencies etc) by doing lots of research on natural births, water births, hypnobirthing, positions in labour, The Thompson Method etc. But last week I was diagnosed with GD and since then all my fears have come back, along with crying everyday and general low mood. I am now all consumed by fears of big babies, the phrase "we will induce you" regardless of my choice and knowing that my natural water birth plan will probably be off the table. I'm now deliberating requesting a c-section, just to avoid going through the pain of induction and the uncertainty of it all. Probably doesn't help I watched "This is going to hurt" on BBC to "educate" myself, and had the fear of should dystocia drilled into me!

Any tips for reducing birth fear? I usually go with lots of planning and research but I'm acutely aware things just don't go to plan with birth so I don't think thats going to work this time.

I had GD and was induced. My DS was only 6lb 15 and I managed to control sugars with diet. I had a really positive birth and I don't feel GD impacted it at all other than I was induced and I had to be on the labour ward - but that could have ended up happening anyway!

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 26/02/2022 22:32

Yes, OP, I did.

I was diagnosed with GD fairly early on and despite lots of talk about induction and a giant baby at 34 weeks, DD was eventually born one week after her due date and weighing a mere 7lb 2oz. I had no painkillers and no tearing and just a small episiotomy which healed very well.

It's very hard but concentrate on an excellent diet and on keeping moving and talk to the team caring for you.

All the very best .

Original poster

Zibidee · 26/02/2022 22:38

Thank you for all the speedy responses!
It is so confusing when looking at all the birth options, and reading everyone's experiences. You can get a whole thread about positive induction stories over c-section and then the opposite in a different thread, all depending on what the OP was seeking.
I don't really want either, I want to do things in my baby's own time and in the water instead of heavy pain meds. But I know my hospital doesn't have a pool in the labour ward, only in the midwife unit, and i'm worried they won't let me in there just by hearing the words Gestational Diabetes.
But maybe I just need to get over my original plan and start focusing on a nice calm planned c-section.

OP posts:

Daisy4569 · 26/02/2022 22:42

Ah I remember feeling this way!

I had a water birth planned until the week before my due date where they diagnosed GD. It was all so rushed I didn’t really get to think about not having an induction.

My readings were all fine and I thought that would mean I’d have more options given to me but I still got pushed into the induction. If I’d had more time I might have argued more but he was my first and when they talked about all the possible issues I just wanted him here safely. Saying that it was actually fine, no pain relief, 9lb ( mega long and not actually that big!) and a few stitches from an episiotomy I couldn’t actually feel.

Try not to worry, it really is true that you actually don’t care when it’s happening as long as LO arrives safely and you definitely forget once they’ve arrived.

Good luck!

PurplePansy05 · 26/02/2022 22:46

OP, I would say with GD it is standard practice to be consultant led and to be either induced or have a planned CS, so that either way you have a consultant involved in delivery in case there are any complications. My son was born hypoglycemic despite my best efforts and he was monitored immediately after the birth and then several times a day when we stayed in hospital. It was a bit of a battle to stabilise his glucose levels and that's quite unpredictable. So I would say remain open about your options.

Also re ELCS (or rather planned section), I'd ignore any stats or generic info about CS as they tend to focus on EMCS. The process and recovery after ELCS is different and it's in nearly every case I've ever heard of, a lot easier on you. Keep on mind as well that induction may end up with an EMCS anyway, it wouldn't be unusual. How far along are you now?

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