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

Scan and induction decision tomorrow...

6 replies

FoxyRevenger · 24/05/2010 11:57

And I am suddenly so nervous!!

I was diagnosed with GD at 34 weeks and have a scan tomorrow (36+4) from which they will decide when to induce me as apparently the baby is quite big (although I'm not 100% convinced about that)

So, having been completely blase about giving birth up until now I am suddenly nervous as hell!!

Help me stay calm and tell me about your lovely induction stories...if there are any such things!

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ktwiltshire · 24/05/2010 12:18

i am due to go in myself on wedneday for an induction and i will be 37weeks. i wouldnt worry too much, they will take good care of you if they are inducing you early, i know 37 is considered term, but it wont be as quick as if you were induced at 39/40/41 weeks!

i was also induced with DD1, i was induced at 41 weeks, i was lucky in that although the first prostiglandin didnt work, the second one did, and from that second tablet going in (a little painful and awkward, but nothing really compared to actual labour) it was about 18hrs, but thats because they refused to break the waters (which would have speeded things up hugely) until i think 2hrs before DD1 actually arrived. i only had a small tear from the labour, which only needed a couple stitches. i had worse from when i went into spontaneous labour with DD2!!

ktwiltshire · 24/05/2010 12:21

^ forgot to add, theyve agreed as im being induced early to only try a maximum of 3 protigladins before csection (in my case its advantageous not to have a natural delivery, but worth the try if it comes easily to my body). they will generally use the prostiglandins to get you 'open' enough to break your waters, which usually speeds things up brilliantly

TaurielTest · 24/05/2010 12:24

Remember it's still for you to decide, not them, whatever the scan indicates. If I were you I'd be asking about the margin for error of the scan and the pros and cons of inducing vs waiting before I made up my mind. Hope the appointment goes well.

first1 · 24/05/2010 12:28

I'm being induced on Friday but purely for being so bloody overdue! (Will be 40+11) on d-day. If I were you, as another poster said, scans can be so inaccurate towards the end, so I wouldnt be quick to agree to a particularly early induction. One sister and my cousin had GD and they werent induced until 38 weeks.

FoxyRevenger · 24/05/2010 12:37

Yes, I am going to ask if the induction is based purely on size or if the GD affects the baby in any other way, as I reckon we would have a big 'un anyway - my husband is 6 ft 2 and I am not a size 8 myself...

Thanks for your stories, that really helps!!

x

OP posts:
burmesegrumbler · 24/05/2010 15:18

Hi Foxy,

I was diagnosed with GD at 36 weeks (currently 40+2). They only sent me for the GTT as at 34 weeks fundal height was measuring large (turned out to be constipation), have had three scans since the diagnosis to check growth and all show a baby with a normal growth pattern, just slightly smaller than average (I am 5'3" and a size 8, so no surprises there). I have been controlling my blood glucose with diet alone (only change is not to drink fruit juice in the morning) though admittedly, even the diabetic consultant thinks I am perhaps not diabetic, so your case might be different. Please keep in mind there is no precedent for diagnosis of GD after 28 weeks - all women can suffer impaired insulin response in the last few weeks of pregnancy due to the stresses on the body (as my diabetic consultant told me herself). If your growth scan shows your baby is 'normal sized' and if you are successfully managing your blood glucose levels, don't be bulled into an induction.

It's the obstetricians duty to tell you about the possible risks of going to full term and beyond as stated in the NICE guidelines. I have read them in detail - you can google them, and my own conclusion (you should make your own!) is if you have no other health issues (pre existing diabetes, overweight, high blood pressure, pre eclampsia etc) and your baby is not large, there is nothing linking GD with increased risk, as the only studies they have used to base 'increased risk on' did not include women with otherwise healthy pregnancies, only those with large for date babies, pre existing or insulin dependent GD and other health problems.

There is another thread called 'support and help with gestational diabetes' we have discussed induction a lot over the past few weeks, take a look, some of the ladies on that link have pre existing diabetes and insulin dependent diabetes and can offer plenty of advice and support with a different perspective than my own, they are a lovely bunch and I have found the thread invaluable over the past few weeks!

Thread link:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/936486-Support-and-help-with-Gestational-Diabetes

Also google Michel Odent (world re-knowned obstetrician) and Hercy Goer for some alternative perspectives to the NHS on GD.

It is very hard to push for your own birth choices when obstetricians wave the risk of 'still birth' flag at you, it's very emotional and upsetting. My sister in law had a still birth nine moths ago at full term (nothing to do with GD, it was an umbilical cord problem that nobody could have foreseen) which has made sticking to my spontaneous home birth plan, very, very hard indeed. For me personally the induction route with a potential cascade of intervention is much scarier then allowing my baby the chance to arrive when she is ready, but that's me and everyone is different and that's what birth choices are there for, to give each of us what we feel we need.

Whatever you decide you need to have confidence in your decision, whatever it may be, it will be the right one for you, so read up and make your plan, but don't be dictated too, it's your birth and your baby and nobody wants to see it safe in your arms more than you do.

Good Luck!

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