Delivery options for diabetics

[praying4good]

As you may be aware, I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes which is being controlled through diet.

Do you know if I am still eligible to have a water birth or will I have to go straight to the delivery suite once labour is established?

 

[Emmea12uk]

It depends on whether you continue to control it by diet and what your hospital facilities are. There is no reason why you can't birth baby in water - the risk is baby may have large shoulders and get stuck - in which case they may use foreceps or even section. But I have done this before,and when the time comes and you have had growth scans - if there is no reason not to, then push for it!

I am going to have a water birth and natural delivery away from our labour ward whether they like it or not! I'll stay at home if they refuse. Our hospital does have a pool on the labour ward but they have a birth centre a few floors up too. The way I see it is, if I need help then they can take me down there when the time comes!

Good luck - also there is a thread for gd - cone and join!

 

[Adelicia]

As you may be aware, I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes which is being controlled through diet.

Do you know if I am still eligible to have a water birth or will I have to go straight to the delivery suite once labour is established?

I was asking a consultant about this just yesterday.

Basically, it depends on if you need constant monitoring during delivery. If you don't, then there should be no issue, if you do, it depends if they have waterproof 'telemetry' equipment available to scan you. Bear in mind that any hormonal induction and waterbirth may not be an option, and certainly won't with an Oxytocin drip.