Is Labour about to begin? Also possible GD..

[Stardust127]

Evening all.

I’ll try to keep this as short as possible 😅
I am 37+1 weeks pregnant. On Friday night I suffered from on/off pains that felt like dull aches/period pains and dull ache in lower back. It was so bad for hours then it stopped. Same happened yesterday so I went to the hospital, they said I’m in early Labour and baby is engaged from what midwife could tell but said this early Labour could last for weeks 😣 today pain has been on & off. I’ve also been getting a lot of Braxton hicks since around 30ish weeks which over time have gotten more intense. Baby’s movements are good.

I’ve also been having growth scans and our baby is measuring big on 95th centile and as of 36+5 had estimated weight of 7.5lb already. I’ve been given a home test kit for gestational diabetes and it looks like that’s what I’ve got as most of my results so far are quite high (E.g target after meals is 7.5, mine are in the 8.5-9.0 range). It will be diagnosed depending on results when they call in a few days time. Apparently I’ll be induced at around 39 weeks if it is diagnosed.

I’d really like to hear about people’s experiences of the early labour stage please and gestational diabetes that occurred in late pregnancy.

thank you ♥️

Hey OP. I’m currently 36+4 and confirmed with GD at around 26 weeks. I’m on metaformin and insulin to keep my bloods under control, but at 36 weeks scan baby was measuring as 7.2lb due to the GD. I have a consultant appointment tomorrow to discuss induction at 38 weeks or C section at 38 or 39 weeks.
I do however think Labour is going to come naturally as like you, I’ve been getting the above signs.

Hi, I was diagnosed with GD quite early on in my pregnancy- I was already considered as high risk because I have pre diabetes and I come from a family of diabetics. I had to take 4 tablets of metformin and I was on a very strict diet. I had scans every other week due to reduced movement and restricted growth. I ended up going into spontaneous labour at 37+6 and gave birth at 38 weeks, although I was given an option of being induced at either 38 or 39 weeks. Before I went into labour my glucose levels had returned back to normal, had severe diarrhoea and cramps.

I had all sorts of pulling cramping pains at 36+4. Was sure something would happen but eased off by bedtime then nothing the next day. Waters unexpectedly broke on the evening of 37+1 and baby arrived at 37+2. I had nothing between the day of cramping and waters breaking. When my waters broke, hospital told me I could be in labour for days so booked an induction for two days later. I was back in the delivery suite within hours ready to push so from my experience it can come out the blue and happen quickly.

Hi OP,

Have you started to look at how to modify your diet in response to GD?
The GD UK Facebook group is helpful for support and ideas.

@AimeeLou84 sounds like we’re in a similar situation, how did your appointment go yesterday?

@Pinkymummy that sounds quite tough sorry to hear that but that’s good your levels went down in the end ! Thank you for sharing it’s all very helpful to know.

@Classicstripewastaken thats exactly how I feel, so many aches and pains it’s exhausting me now 😣 keep hoping I go into Labour soon but knowing my luck it will still be weeks!

@SouthwestSis they’ve told me to eat my normal diet while I’m doing the at home daily tests for GD. Once it’s diagnosed (after 5 days, last day is tomorrow) then I’ll need to change up my diet according to their advice. Thank you that’s really good to know, I’ll have a look 😊

The sonographer was the one who ordered the test kit for me as baby’s AC is very high. His overall measurements are high really. He said they will induce at 39 weeks if diagnosed with GD and said there is a risk of stillbirth if not or if the GD wasn’t caught. This really scared me.

I don’t actually think the weight for date is high tbh … fingers crossed for you all x

My top tips are to find some high fat or high protein foods that you like and "pair" them with carbs, (pairing just means eating them at the same time).

Ingesting the protein and fat at the same time as the carb slows down your intestines digesting the carbs and therefore the conversion to sugar in your bloodstream making it easier for your pancreas to deal with.

The other easier swap is to consume "lower GI" carbs such as brown rice, bread and pasta (compared to the white versions). Again the brown versions take longer for your intestines to break down the carb so avoids the spike of sugar in your bloodstream.

If you do have GD confirmed, then your baby may be at risk of having low blood sugar themselves after they are born (they got used to having a higher than normal blood sugar whilst in utero).
You can prepare for this by antenatal expressing of colostrum, collect little syringes and take them into hospital with you to help baby along until your milk comes in properly.
Not everyone is able to express any colostrum before labour (I never could despite over a week of trying) but well worth a go, your midwife can supply you the little syringes and advise on how to express, plus there are some good YouTube videos

@Stardust127 So I was offered induction next week at 38 weeks but I’ve opted for c section at 39 weeks. Have a scan next week to check her weight again.
Needless to say they’ve scared the life out of me with all the risks etc and about movements. They really don’t help anxiety in pregnancy!

@frazzledbutcalm i don’t know, but he’s on 95th centile for his overall measurements 😬😅. Tbf he’s always been on the bigger side so maybe he’s just a big baby and it’s nothing to do with GD 🤷🏼‍♀️

@SouthwestSis this is all really good info thank you so much. I will definitely talk to my midwife about harvesting colostrum. I remember now they did speak about it briefly in a breastfeeding class DH and I went to, seemed interesting. It’s a very good idea.

@AimeeLou84 I’m glad your appointment went well and you’ve been given options rather than just being told ‘this is what’s happening’. I have a 10 year old & that’s what happened with her, I wasn’t given much choice or info with anything. Don’t mind me asking, what made you opt for the CS over the induction?

yeah it is all quite anxiety inducing isn’t it, but I think we’ll be fine. I’ve been seeing a clinical psychologist through maternity for this very reason (and because of how my last birth went - was due to being in a bad hospital and poor quality of care) & it’s helped somewhat. Do ask to be referred if your anxiety about it all gets worse. Even as far along as you are it would still be possible for a referral and you can carry on seeing them after the birth if you choose to.

@Stardust127 I opted for c section because they told me she could get stuck and the risks of shoulder dystocia, they scared the life out of me to be honest. Then said if she gets stuck they’d have to rush me down for emergency c section. So I’m hoping my c section decision is safer for myself and my baby. They don’t like to give positives or anything 🙄

It’s said that babies put on 1/2 pound per week in the last weeks of pregnancy … utter tosh. I had 2 growth scans with estimated weights at 34 weeks, meaning both babies would have been huge, yet both of mine only put on an average of 3oz per week from then until delivery. They also said my first was very large and I was hiding it well .. welcome 5lb 3oz baby 😆😆
I wish everyone well and safe healthy deliveries 👩‍🍼

How did you get on @Stardust127 , did your readings after meals stay high?
Any more early labour pains? Hope you are doing OK

Oh gosh, well I think that’s the right decision in that case, at least you will be at peace of mind. They told me about the risk of shoulder dystocia too and said that’s why they deliver mums with GD early as the babies are bigger. So it’s good that we both know what’s going on and being well cared for. When is your CS scheduled for? I was told today I have GD. Have a phone appt on Friday to talk about induction at 39 weeks, so could be having my baby as soon as next week!

Thank you for checking in, that’s really kind of you. I had an appt today and from my blood sugar levels they’ve said I’ve got GD, so will probably want to induce me at 39 weeks. Which is the end of next week. I have a phone appt booked for this Friday to talk about it all. I’ve been put on metformin for the GD and I need to also adjust my diet. So it’s all good I suppose in the sense that they’ve caught it when they did and I’m being well cared for x

No more early labour pains weirdly but I do get the odd painful Braxton hicks every now and then. I’ve had terrible lightning crotch the past few days though. It feels like there’s a knitting needle being poked up my cervix ugh 😣

Ahhh how exciting! I’m starting to get regular braxton hicks I’ve got a feeling she’s going to come early! I hope everything goes well and good luck!

I was somehow posting from my other account (Dandelion925) 🫠 I use that for boring stuff I need info on like legal stuff and the like.

just an update and info for any future readers of this post really, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and put on metformin to try to control my blood sugar levels. They did go down a bit but apparently not enough - the diabetes nurse called me from the hospital this evening, they are going to induce me tomorrow, due to the GD but also because my baby is quite big. So it’s all systems go right now at home trying to get the last minute bits sorted and organising childcare for DC1.

thank you all for your supportive and informative messages! Xx

Should also add, I am exactly 38 weeks tomorrow

Oh good luck OP!! How exciting x

Hope your induction goes smoothly OP. If they start you off tomorrow then hopefully things will be in full swing by Sunday!
Did you manage to do any colostrum expressing?

Thank you both! I’m up at the crack of dawn and barely slept last night, due to discomfort but probably a lot of anticipation too.

@SouthwestSis unfortunately I wasn’t able to harvest any colostrum which is upsetting as I did try quite a few times. We are very (stupidly) unprepared in the event that breastfeeding doesn’t take which has started to worry me quite a lot. Just hoping that my milk comes in with no problems once baby is born and he can feed well

xx

@AimeeLou84 best of luck with your c section this coming week, hope all goes smoothly xx