Gestational Diabetes - when/how did you deliver & how was/is your baby now?

[2020N]

I had the GTT yesterday and have had the call today to say that my results are positive. (Bit of a shock as I don’t meet the criteria in any way, other than baby has had an accelerated growth in between growth scans - 18th percentile at 24 weeks and 44th percentile at 28 weeks).

I’ve got an appointment Thursday morning at the antenatal hospital and will find how to manage it, and to meet with a dietician etc, but I’m just looking for some insight into how it might affect my baby at the moment.

If you have/had GD when did you deliver? Did you go into labour naturally or were you induced/scheduled for a c-section earlier? And how were your babies when they were born?

I know I’ll get lots of answers from the hospital on Thursday, but trying to stop myself from spiralling by asking for your experiences rather than turning to Google…

I was induced at 37 weeks with GD. I didn't fit the GD markers either except baby measuring big. He was born vaginally the day after induction began weighing 9lb 10!

Oh wow, 9lb 10! Can I ask when they picked yours up please? Hope your baby boy is well? My first was only 5lb 1 so I’m extra shocked that this baby could be the opposite!

At 36w for other reasons. Zero consequences for baby (is now 7).

Had dd on her due date, spontaneous labour, vaginal, no interventions or pain relief. Baby was 7lbs 4oz. No problems for either of us. No problems with breastfeeding either.

Only diagnosed (provisionally) at 36 weeks due to the size of the baby. My waters broke the day before her due date but I didn’t go into labour myself so was induced the next day and had a lovely straightforward and fast vaginal water birth, just like I’d had with DC1. Baby was 9lb and perfectly healthy.

Edited to add - she is 4 now and just gorgeous! Never had any health concerns.

Yes picked up by gestational test due to other medical condition on my part.

No issues whatsoever. Had to do the finger testing four times a day and write in the book. Had no weekly scans and appointments but no issues whatsoever (don’t know if they still do this).

Was going to go natural but had to have a c at 39 weeks.

Baby tested at birth and on and was absolutely fine - yea but big 9lb 6.

Kid is normal size, weight now and all good.

It is a surprise but nothing to really worry about. Take care.

Diagnosed at 27 weeks. Diet controlled throughout, consultant supported declined induction and I had a spontaneous natural delivery right on my due date. DC was 7lb 2oz.

I can’t quite remember when I was diagnosed, about 30 weeks maybe but not sure.

I used a finger prick testing device and app that sent results to hospital nurses, managed to keep all readings below target through diet changes without any medication. Bar one at the beginning which went over but my own fault…the nurses were like, jacket potato and baked beans!? Really!?

I had an elective caesarean but not solely due to GD, I had other complications which made it the best option for me. I had it at 39 weeks plus a few days, DD was not big at all only 6lbs 2 ounces. She was fine at birth, I mean over the next few days she did have slight shakiness and some jaundice but that was not related to GD, but due to dehydration as she had a undiagnosed tongue tie at the start and wasn’t getting enough milk. It didn’t require any treatment beyond getting her to drink more.

Thank you all so much for sharing your journeys, this is really reassuring. I’m glad that all of your little ones (and now bigger ones!) all arrived safe and well. Definitely feeling more positive now.

Had my little boy at 38+1 after starting induction the night before. Placenta was breaking down (blood sugars over 2 days suddenly returned to normal and I didn’t need insulin after being on it throughout). Birth was completely normal, baby weighed 7lb 12oz and at almost 3 now is perfect. Also had another baby since and no GD! X

7lb 7 and 5lb 11 for the two children that were GD babies. Identified first at 28 weeks, second nearer 20.

Natural birth at 37 weeks (+5 days).

LO was fine after birth and we were discharged the next day (laboured overnight so had to stay 24 hours to check their blood sugars).

Have since had one HBAC1 test (recommended to have yearly for 5 years post birth) and so far all good here.

GD diagnosed at 28 weeks. I managed to stay diet controlled. Baby was on 10th centile on all growth scans. Final growth scan at 38 weeks had him down as 6lb 3oz. He was born at 39 +1 at 7lb 5oz.

Spontaneous delivery, no complications, had a water birth. Labour was about 3 hours (2nd child though) He is 1 next month.

I tested positive at 24 weeks with DC5. I was mid 30s and that is a risk factor.

Baby (over 9 lbs!) was delivered one day after the due date, after induction that started one day before the due date by gel pessary. Twas a long couple of days, but delivery was straightforward once things got started.

I had all my DCs in the US and was referred to a dietician once I tested positive. I followed all the dietician guidance to the letter.

Another positive story here. I tested positive during my second pregnancy (have pcos and was 40 +) so not a huge surprise. Managed to control it for a few weeks by just controlling my diet, then towards the end I needed insulin. Had some extra growth scans due to baby measuring slightly small but all fine. Had a c-section booked at 37+0 (due to traumatic first birth so not for GD reasons). Waters broke at 36+3. Went to hospital, had an 'emergency' c-section. A beautiful, calm and healing experience after the horrific birth first time around. Weighed in st just under 6lbs (both mine were under 50 centile), all totally fine. Baby's blood sugar was a little low for the first few hours and they asked if I was ok for him to have formula. I said of course as I'd struggle to bf my first so assumed I would struggle with my second as well. To my surprise my baby had no issues with bf at all even with that first formula. His blood sugar was fine after that first reading. My readings stayed very high for 48 hours or so, I remember them talking about it at the time and debating if to discharge me. I begged them to let me go and said I'd keep testing at home and come back if I needed to. The first reading I did back home was back to normal. The nurse called to check and was happy with the numbers. I kept checking every now and again for a couple of weeks but all was fine, and had been since. Never thought about it again. My baby is 6 now and doing great in every way.

Posted too soon - I had to do finger pricking four times daily and record my readings. All were within normal range as long as I stuck rigorously to the dietary suggestions. I got the hang of all that after a few days.

I was very motivated to stick to the diet - the thought of injecting insulin grossed me out.

DC and I stayed 24 hours in the hospital before discharge to enable obs of blood sugar. We were both normal. DC now 23 and has an unbelievable sweet tooth...

I was told that GD increases your risk of subsequently developing T2 diabetes later in life, and that also out the fear of God in me, so I've been careful about what I eat and exercising ever since. It would have been a good idea anyway to be disciplined but all the more so because of the GD/T2 link.

DS1 Diagnosed at 31 weeks. Finger prick tests and controlled with food.
Waters went at 38 weeks, I had to have a C-section (nothing to do with the diabetes). DS weighed 7lbs, so not huge. No medical problems. He is now 6ft tall and is 16 years old and very sporty.

DS2, I was tested all the way through, no gestational diabetes found. Identical birth to DS1, even the same weight. He’s now 13, no health problems at all.

I live in Portugal and every pregnant woman has the test regardless at 16 odd weeks- my first 2 I didn't have - 3rd baby I did was a shock- I have quite small babies first 2 were 5lbs and 6lb. I was diet controlled with the finger prick tests until I had a threatened labour at 31 weeks and had to be bed bound for a week in hospital and given steroids in case she came out- they completely buggered up my system and had to have insulin alongside the finger pricks- I was already dilated at 29 weeks a couple of cm at 36 I was 4cm so was still on pretty much bedrest until 37 weeks. I was going to be encouraged by breaking waters at my 39 week day but she flew out a few days b4 completely healthy but with a 97th percentile head she did bugger me up a bit - she was a normal weight and GD disappeared immediately.

First pregnancy I was tested due to my mum having type 2 diabetes. Shocked when I got the call. Tested around 28 weeks and diet controlled. Waters spontaneously went at 37 weeks like in the movies! But didn't get contractions so 48 hrs later I was induced with the drip it was intense but manageable and had gas and air. He was born at 37+3 weighing 6lbs and other than jaundice he was totally fine and now 3 years old.

Second pregnancy they just assume I have it so been testing blood sugar since 13 weeks. In that time I've had a few highs and declined medication as I felt they were too quick pushing it. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and it seems to be improving now. Baby has been measuring consistently at each scan and last week estimated at 6lbs 12 so hopefully a reasonable size. I agreed to a sweep yesterday and have another tomorrow. Going to get induced at the weekend if nothing has happened but 2cm dilated and lost some of mucus plug so hopefully I'll go before then!

I would highly recommend looking at gestational diabetes UK Facebook and website. If I'd followed the dietitians advice I'd probably have been on insulin within weeks!

Thank you for this, I will take a look.

Hoping that everything progresses well for you over the next few days and wishing you and baby a safe arrival!

Yes , diagnosed at 19 with my first baby

went for multiple scans and warned/ told off constantly that baby was a big 10lb er

baby came out a tiny 5.5 . I still feel upset about how I was treated/ spoken too , and I don’t think I would have received the same treatment if I was ten years older.

no gd with the second baby , so I do wonder if there was something wrong with the first test 🤷‍♂️

anyway , first baby 18 years ago and happy and healthy training to be a paramedic

Hi. I was very similar to you with no markers but was diagnosed with GD. My DS was born via induction at 38 weeks and with instrumental delivery. After being off the scale at times at scans was only 7lb 11oz. He had jaundice after and needed light therapy but this was also partly because he struggled to feed. After a few days he was perfectly healthy.

I was also very overwhelmed when first told but after a week or two it was just routine. I had fortnightly scans but quite liked them as it gave me reassurance.

Like others have said I highly recommended Facebook groups. I managed to diet control by massively cutting carbs and upping protein and going for a short walk after most meals. Also doing lots of pairing of carbs with protein or fats.
Hope everything goes well for you.

Ds born at 41wks 7lb 7oz

Dd born at 40wk5d 6lb 2oz

No issues. I managed it with diet and didn't find it super restrictive

Diagnosed at 33 weeks. Managed it with diet and walking.

Baby was breech so had an ELCS (GD not a factor at all) born 7lb 8oz at 39wks

In the first 24hrs she refused to suckle (bottle or nipple) so had to go onto neonatal to have a feeding tube. I was told this was due to needing to regulate her blood sugars due to the GD. This didn’t last long and she soon got the hang of bottles (by the 2nd day).

She hit all her milestones and is now a wonderful 11yr old with no health issues whatsoever!

Diagnosed at 26 weeks, insulin controlled as diet didn't work, was induced at 37.5 weeks, DD was 8lb 11oz. The induction process was fine, mainly boring with lots of waiting around. I had a pessary inserted, nothing happened for 24 hrs, but they were then able to break my waters. After that things went pretty quick and DD was born 4.5 hrs after contractions started with the help of a little gas n air.

We had to stay overnight because they wanted 3 sugar checks for DD, they were all good so we were released at 8am the morning after she was born.

She is a healthy, happy, bright, sarcastic and increasingly moody 10 (nearly 11) yr old now.