GD and waterbirth?

[amym]

Hiya, I am wondering if you get diagnosed with GD whether they will refuse a waterbirth for any reason? I really want a waterbirth (at least to labour in water) but I heard they induce you early often and inductions are usually very medicalised.

Any info ladies?

 

[NatalieW]

Im sorry I wasn't allowed one.

Because you have GD you'll be induced with the gel or any variant of that, I had a prepress then your waters will be broken and you'll be on a hormone drip and constantly monitored.

Having said all that I had such a lovely birth and induction, it hasn't phased me at all xx

 

[going_crazy]

I've asked about this, and, if I am not on insulin at the time of labour I will be allowed to have a water birth. The consultant mentioned that the midwives may need to check my blood sugars every now and then during labour and the odd fetal heart monitoring which can be done in water, (which is fine with me).

Every woman/pregnancy is different and I would suggest you ask if you can have one or not. Also, if you are refused, ask for the reasons behind their decision, just so that you know they are not treating you as a "textbook case"

Oh, and I am not being induced as such, I have asked for a sweep on my due date but that's it - I'm not allowed any gel/pessary etc due to a previous c-section..... again, every case is different. In my hospital, if your baby is of 'average size' at 38 weeks (as seen on scan) you do not have to be induced, but you are asked to be checked over at least three times a week until you go into labour.
And during labour, unless anything goes 'wrong' I will not be hooked to any drip, nor will I be constantly monitored. Having said this, if I am put onto insulin between now and labour, a lot of things will change!
Your consultant/midwife will be able to advise you the best as they know your medical history (and I don't!) but I would definately recommend that you ask!

 

[Caezzybe]

I've asked at the hospital about this as I would really like a water birth too. I'm diet controlled and apparently if anybody with GD at my hospital is on under 20 units of insulin (that will include me as I'm not on insulin) then they will not need a sliding scale of insulin (insulin drip and glucose drip) during the birth. So that's one thing in my favour. My hospital do not use Metformin tablets at all, so don't have a policy on tablet controlled GD and induction, but a friend of mine who was at another hospital and on Metformin got told that they routinely induce at 38 weeks.

At my hospital, they take induction on a case by case basis depending on the size of the baby at the 36 week scan. They do not let GD ladies go past their due date, but may let them go up to it is the blood sugar is well controlled by diet alone. I'm saying this because the longer before induction that I am left, the more likely spontaneous labour is likely to be. Water birth with a drip of any sort in your arm (including induction) is not allowed, but if I do go into labour naturally before my induction date (which I won't find out for another 2 weeks) then I can have a water birth if the pool is available.

There are a lot of ifs in there, but I'm keeping hopeful as it's not been ruled out. If it doesn't go the way I hope, then I won't beat myself up about it but it's nice to stay positive.

The best thing you can do is find out what your hospital's policy is with regard to GD and water birth, good luck and keeping everything crossed that things go your way