GD and being induced?

[ceri78]

Hi,is it normal everywhere to be induced around 38wks when you have gestational diabetes?? I live in mid wales and have not been told i will be induced at all?? i thought i would be???

 

[Tanikit]

I think it varies quite a bit depedning how well controlled the diabetes is and also sometimes whether you are on insulin or just diet. I know on the site www.diabeticmommy.com there are many diabetics who make it to 40 weeks or have a later induction at 39 weeks - I think a lot depend on the doctors, the checks they do and the individual patient. Certainly the doctor I saw before induced me at 38 weeks (I am a type 1 diabetic) but she did not want to do it earlier than 38 weeks either to give baby the best chance for lung development and the least risk for my placenta to become too old.

 

[ceri78]

im diet controlled at mo and 34wks,is it that im not on insulin why they wont induce me do you think?

 

[USMC Wifey]

I'm on insulin and was with my son (8 years ago) I will be starting pump therapy when I conceieve this baby. But my internal meds doctor told me that as long as I am controlled (my sugars) that they will let me go full term as long as my baby doesn't get to big. My son weighed in at 10lbs 3oz...But healthy as a horse.. I don't want to be induced or do a c-section unless I have to ...It is way to hard on the baby.. Do you see a HIGH RISK doctor for your treatment ??

 

[belladonna]

Are you having a scan at 36 weeks? They may decide then if baby is massive already. I only had a c-section at 37+6 as they didn't have anything free until two weeks after my due date (baby was breech and would not turn, little madam!)

 

[ceri78]

yeah im seeing the registra next tues she was the one who ordered my last scan at 31wks bubs tummy was 3 weeks ahead then.Midwife said i more than likely be having another scan at 35-36wks to check size. I just thought everyone with diabetes was not allowed to go over 38wks???

 

[andrea675]

Hi,

I have GD, second pregnancy and was induced with 1st due to high BP. I have had so much conflicting advice in this pregnancy! I had banked on induction at 38 weeks as this was the case last time, then told they would not induce before 39 weeks but didn't like GD mums to go to term, then told they preferred to wait if everything ok and see if labour starts naturally!

I've had growth scans every two weeks since 28 weeks and yesterdays at 36 weeks is truly frightening - estimated weight already over 8lbs! - and now induction at 38 weeks is the latest I will go with a sweep and exam booked for next week.

I think the NICE guidance for GD suggests offering induction at 38 weeks but doesn't make any mandatory suggestion, depends on you and your situation.

Hope your appt next week helps, good luck!

Andrea

 

[Newky]

Hi I was diaognosed on Monday and this is what the midwife told me RE induction policy:

If the GD could be controlled with diet only (which thankfully is looking very promising)there is no need to be induced early at all. They would only discuss induction if I got to 41 weeks (they induce at 42 weeks anyway). I would also not need any fetal monitoring during labour and could have a water birth if I chose.

If I had to go on the tablets (metaforin??) then they would usually induce at 40 weeks (assuming baby wasn't huge and sugars were being controlled). I would have to have continuous monitoring during labour though whether I was induced or not, which would mean a mobile or water birth would be a no no at the moment. Although the hospital are looking into buying a water proof/mobile monitoring kit, which is great.

If I had to go on insulin then they do usually like to induce at 38 weeks, although if it was being controlled well and the baby wasn't too big then they would be open to letting me go a little longer. Again would need continuous monitoring and probably need to be on a drip during labour.

Basically my trust's policy is to keep labour as natural as possible, which i'm very grateful for. They only induce when they think it's strictly neccessary. Considering that your midwife/doctor hasn't even brought up the issue of induction it may be that they have a similar policy?

Hope your next appointment goes well and you get some concrete answers. x

 

[Aus_Amy]

I have GD and haven't been told anything either and I'm insulin controlled as well as metformin.. And my baby is BIG

 

[Fifi61467]

Hi I got. Diagnosed at 16 weeks I'm now 31 and getting scans every four weeks. I'm on insulin and metformin and been told they will decide at 36 week scan when to do what. I was induced at 38+5with my last and had a fab normal delivery of an8lb6 boy. Being induced doesn't mean it will be agony so try not to worry everyone. I had no drugs ( and not cos I was being a hero) but I didn't feel the need.

 

[ceri78]

Thanyou all for your info,hope to get some answers next week!x

 

[destinyfaith]

this thread has helped me. I was wondred abowt induced im on metformin and due to prob start insulin fri. Whch im thnking i might be induced at 38 week thing is it wil b xmas week when i hit 38week. So would they do this at 37 ful term? Good luck with ur scans hun.

 

[belladonna]

They might not destiny. I know its a little different but I had my cs at 37+6 and they didn't want to do it then as they wanted to wait until I had passed 38w

 

[Pixelle]

Hello,

I was diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks and since then I've been on metformin and insulin. Only small-ish amounts though as my diet is controlling the GD quite well.

I'm due to be induced at 38+5. My particular NHS trust doesn't like ladies to go over 39 weeks but it varies between hospitals. They generally don't induce at 37 weeks unless there are other complications. But again, it depends on your particular NHS trust.

Depending on how the GD progresses (it can get harder to control by diet alone as pregnancy progresses, due to the placenta) and with growth scans, they should discuss the possibilities of induction and when that might be.

 

[andrea675]

Warning - mini rant! I saw the registrar last week who agreed a plan for a sweep this week and to arrange date for induction as I would be 37 weeks. So off to clinic this morning to see consultant who was clearly not in agreement with this and does not want to induce at all!!!!!!!

I'm not as annoyed as I thought I'd be, I had said before that I'd stage a sit-in if this baby wasn't out soon!!!

So, another week to try and talk her round, although on the plus side I have had some contractions this week so maybe he'll come of his own accord, fingers crossed!


Andrea

 

[Bix]

How did you get on at your appointment Ceri?

I've been on Metformin since 29 weeks when bubs measured a week bigger. Had a 33 week scan on Thursday where bubs is now measuring 2 weeks too big (currently 4lbs 15 apparently). Metformin has been increased and I've been told that I will have another scan to check the growth at 37 weeks and will more than likely be induced a week later at 38 weeks. (BTW these would be the 28, 32 & 36 week scans but they always fall on a Thursday when I am +6 days so I've rounded up to 29, 33 & 37). Baby is also currently breech so I'll have a CSection if baby hasn't turned by the next scan.

However, things were different with my first as I was at a different hospital. I had GD but this was completely diet controlled and I was able to go into labour naturally and had my son at 38+6. I don't remember but my mum, who came to alot of the appointments with me, said they had said they would not let me go past 40 weeks.

It's interesting to see the variations on dealing with it!

 

[ceri78]

hi well after seeing the registrar i ended up being admitted for 3 days due to dehydration i had ketones in my urine quite high.While there i had a growth scan and baby has stopped growing so i have another scanbooked on the 10th and if bubs still hasnt grown i will be induced...couldnt believe it i been thinking all along about bubs being big and to be told shes stopped growing has upset me no end im worrying so much about her now i just want her in my arms and safe.x

 

[Bix]

Oh honey . I have no experience of that so can't offer any advice, but try not to worry too much - sounds like they are really keeping a close eye on you so you and bubs are in the best hands and I'm sure everything will be fine

 

[myk's mummy]

It depends on which country you live in and the policy of the hospital you'll be attending (if a hospital birth).

I live in regional Australia and my OB wants to schedule my induction for 38 weeks. The hospital policy in my town is that they will usually induce by 39 weeks and will not let GD mums pass their due date.

 

[daisyfflur]

I had GD (diagnosed-ish, no one actually said it, at about 35 weeks) which was mostly diet controlled but sometimes my readings were all over the place, sometimes fine. Even managed to lose 3lbs. I had a meeting with a consultant at about 37 weeks who said just continue with the diet, then another consultant at 39 + 3 weeks said they didn't want me to go over my due date so booked me in one day before my due date for an induction.

Anyhoo, my waters broke that morning at 7am and had my daughter by emergency c-section at 11.35pm the day after after a massively failed induction so my point being they might not do anything about an induction until quite close to your due date, I just assumed they wouldn't do anything so was quite shocked to leave my meeting on the Wednesday with an induction date of the next Saturday.


Can I just say its an utter pain in the arse to be induced! You are monitored throughout active labour so you can't have an active birth, I had three drips and if like me you have a failed induction, 3 prostin gels then full strength syntocin and still only 4cm dilated after nearly 40 hours, a natural birth may be the better option!

Good luck all.

P.S. I met a woman at the HV clinic who had her son on the same day as me, also diagnosed with GD. Her growth scans indicated a big baby 9lb+ but after being induced her bubs weighed 5lbs so these growth scans are literally nonsense.