need info on gestational diabetes

[penguinmum]

Hi, am sure this has been discussed many times before, but couldn't see any current threads.

I have recently been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, trying to control with diet and exercise. Got my first clinic appointment tomorrow, but have questions that I want to ask, but everytime I think about it I want to burst into tears!

I have been told that, if I can control my sugar levels, I should be able to go to term and have a natural birth, so am trying really hard - don't want to have a caeserean! But I have been told that the baby will have to be taken to Special Care for blood tests. Does anyone know if this happens straight away (I really want to spend some time with the baby before it goes) and how long it may have to stay for? I appreciate it depends on the circumstances, but wondered if anyone had a rough idea? Thanks.

I was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks and it was controlled with diet and exercise.

I went to term (40+9) and went into spontaneous labour. I did end up having a csection, but for reasons unrelated to GD.

The Obs wanted me to have a csection at 38 weeks but I refused. I'm so glad I didn't as my ds would have been born nearly a month too early.

He did not go into special care. His (and my) blood sugar results were perfectly normal. But I later found out my test results were borderline so it was likely that I wasn't suffering with it - which is why my blood sugar results were always on the low side.

I think kellymom.com has some info on GD, and I would really recommend that you read up on it.

Chin up, it may not be as bad as you think. And if it is, it can be treated. You haven't done anything wrong.

I developed T1 in first pregnancy so had to go onto injections immediately. I have had 2 babies. I was induced for both at full-term but delivered naturally. They both had blood sugars monitored for 1st 24hrs but both stayed with me the entire time. DS was slightly low for longer than they would like and wasn't feeding particularly well so I gave him some formula from a feeding cup, this got his blood sugars up and he was fine after that (and no problem BF him after).

It is a shock to get something like this, but you and baby will be closely monitored and there is no reason why you still won't have a positive birth experience. I certainly did!

my DD was whippd of 2 scbu b4 i had properly come round from the general anasthetic.

I was just left there unable to move, not knowing what was happening to my baby,on the maternity ward surrounded by other mums with their babies.

when i was eventually taken to see my baby they were force feeding her formula thru a tube in her nose.

It was a nightmare but i was never told that any of this could happen and have since found out a lot of it (esp. the feeding stuff) was unessecesary.

Bby doesn't have to be taken away for longer than it takes to take to Special Care, do a heel prick test, and bring back. Your DH/DP can go along too. Shouldn't need to be admitted to Special Care at all (it's just a case of taking the baby to somewhere they have the right equipment to do the measurement). And (per NICE guidelines) this should not be done until you have had some skin-to-skin time and an opportunity to breastfeed (NICE say that particularly for mothers with GD you should be encouraged to bf within the first 30 minutes). They'll probably want to repeat at 2-hourly intervals for a while.

I had DD two weeks ago and they didn't seem to notice the GD in my notes so never did the heel prick test at all. I didn't draw their attention to it because (a) my GTT results had only been borderline anyway, (b) I'd stuck to the diets and had beeeeeeeeeeeeautiful blood sugar readings throughout, and (c) it was blatantly obvious that DD wasn't affected by GD as she was a long lean baby, quite the reverse of a "typical" GD build.

As my numbers were well controlled there was no issue at all with my going to term or overdue and having a natural birth (in fact a VBAC). If you end up on insulin then they are far more likely to want to induce or do a c-section at 38 weeks but there really isn't any evidence to support that if your sugar levels are well-controlled by diet and exercise.

I meant to say that if the baby's blood sugar levels are a bit off, breastfeeding is the best thing to stabilise it. Although I'm sure it says this on kellymom.com.

thats wot i thought would happen but dd would never breast feed as they were feeding her formula straight into her stomach so she was never hungry.
They refused to take tube out until she was feeding on her own but wouldnt feed on her own as was tube fed.
It was a nightmare that only ended when when i gave in and agreed to bottle feed her

Oh fiodyl, am very and for you.

Very sorry to hear of your experience Fiodyl, but would like to reassure penguinmum that that isn't the norm.

Perhaps it would be worth checking your hospital's procedure to put your mind at rest, and even consider moving hospital if you don't like the answers.

At my hospital, unless the baby was suffering a very low blood sugar, they remained with you ALL the time. The heel prick tests were done as necessary at my bedside, neither of my babies were removed to SCBU or anywhere else at any point. I was encouraged to breastfeed, and it was only because ds blood sugar stayed a little low after a longish labour that they suggested I give him a little formula to give him energy to feed. I was quite happy to do so in the circumstances.

Don't forget you are being told a lot of worst case scenario to prepare you just in case - GD is quite common, and you may be a borderline case anyway. Do try to not let it overshadow your pregnancy too much! Good luck.

hiya

I also have GD, am 35 weeks now. know how you feel with the tears, when i got told I had GD i totally beat myself up about it until i got to speak to a lovely nurse who reassured me that I didnt do anything to make this happen.

I had a consultants appointment today and my blood sugars are perfect (i am diet and exercise controlled). I was told I can have a normal active birth and the only difference is if my blood sugar reached abouve 10 during labour when they would put me on an insulin drip. They would then monitor me more carefully for distress but not interfere. I have not been told anything about taking my baby off me to SCBU, i have been encouraged to breastfeed (which i was planning on anyway) and my notes have a chart included which states that if blood suger is below 10 no intervention is required. I would suggest bringing this up with the hospital tomorrow and asking if/why they do this.

it is worth keeping in mind that your hospital may induce you early (at 38 weeks) if baby is looking big on your scans, and that many will not let you go past 40 weeks. We have been told this (only last week) and are currently gearing up for a row with them about it....

It really does seem to vary a lot how different hospitals deal with this doesn't it?

If you do end up needing to go on injections I found the thought of it was far worse than the reality. I got used to it amazingly quickly, it really wasn't as bad as I feared ...although just as well as unfortunately in my case since it was Type1 diabetes I didn't get to stop doing them after the baby was born!

i am 25 or 26 wks pregnant im just so busy here i forget terrible really isnt it !!!!
anyway baby due in july

I have GD this is my 3rd pregnancy with it
last 2 were diet and exercise controlled this time i inject insulin twice a day
i am still not stable and they are increasing my insulin every 4 or 5 days

my last baby weighed 9lb 4oz at 37 wks i had to be induced.
previous baby 9lb at only 35 weeks he came naturally

like dilbertina said you get used to injections quite quickly just shove it in and get on with things

I will admit im a bit worried for mymbaby this time as no way am i going to let them induce me they can do a c section but if hes not ready to come induction for me was a bad experience

how are your blood sugar levels doing?
also are you feeling well in yourself?
im sure other mums with GD find this a bit of trial and error finding out what suits you best

my last baby had very low temp and low blood sugar levels and had to be watched in hospital for 24 hours he was also very sleepy and didnt want to feed but soon was ok after a few feeds and care i had to demand i wanted to bf him and i did whenever he wanted and offered all the time,he wasnt taken away they did it in the room the heel prick so i was with him the whole time

my blood sugar levels are still reaching the high 12,s and im on insulin
my baby is big now for dates he is just growing and growing

i have another appt monday at ante natal diabetic clinic and under consultant anyway
all they have said to me is as my diabetes is not being controlled very well even with insulin they want the baby to get to a good size to have a good chance and out he will he will come.
i know how you feel
but please listen to other mums many many are controlled on diet alone and are borderline and all will be ok for you and baby

Thanks for all the info. I know it is quite common, can't help doing the guilt thing though.

Good news about the BF thing - I had a lot of problems with DD, she wouldn't latch on and we ended up having to give up after a week, so am really hoping it will work this time round, which is why I'm anxious about baby being taken away from me.

Have a long list of questions to take to the hospital tomorrow, and I can be very stroppy and stubborn if I don't get my way , so fingers crossed will all go well.

Only been monitoring blood for a couple of weeks, but so far seems to be under control with diet, apart from occasional reading around 10 after breakfast. Trying to fit some exercise in as well, but as I am incredibly lazy it is not so easy! But, if I want what is best for my baby, am off out for a brisk walk after tea!

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who responded yesterday. Went to the hospital today and have had my mind put at rest about most things. They will not take baby away to SCBU, any tests will be done at my bedside. Baby will only go if there are any big problems, which is unlikely. Cried a bit, but feel a lot better now.

Good to hear penguinmum xx

brilliant! really pleased for you. Hope you're feeling a bit better about the whole GD thing now...