Gestational diabetes - what happens to baby at birth?

[minties]

I'm finding it hard to get a straight answer on this.

The consultant at the hospital has booked me in for a c-section at 39+2 (is this in itself, early enough? I'm on metformin 500mg x3 per day, other ladies on here on meds seem to be induced or sectioned at 37/38 weeks? Why?).

The literature from the diabetes nurse says they don't like to remove babies for monitoring now, that the best thing to do is breastfeed immediately and for as long as possible. However the nurse herself and my midwife both say baby will be whisked away for at least an hour ?!

My GD was uncontrolled for ages, I was stupid and didn't take the GTT until I was 34 weeks. Dumbarse. Baby is on the larger side, but healthy, fluid is good, placenta good etc. I haven't had any high readings for a while now. My diet is good.

The consultant didn't offer any advice or reassurance. He just took one look at me, said I'm too short and fat to deliver a baby and booked me in for a section. I was quite overwhelmed and he wasn't friendly, so I didn't ask.

 

[madmae]

I've had two pregnancies affected by GD. With both babies I was encouraged to breastfeed straight away. After that their blood sugars were tested. With both they were low. With my last baby his sugars came up with just regular feeding.....the other sadly needed to go to SCBU and have a drip to help him. But that was 13 hrs after he was born....until then he stayed with me.

 

[hwillmama]

My first son was taken to test his sugars (they were totally normal) in the room. So he was there and I could see him but I didn't get to hold him for about 10 minutes. I was induced at 38 weeks and delivered vaginally he was 7lb 9oz. My blood sugar was back to normal the first test after I had him. I have gestational diabetes this time too. This boy is bigger and he hasn't turned head down yet (37 +1 weeks), so they are talking c section. Apparently, he might be too big to turn. Although, I have a sono every week because of the gd and he has been in a different position for the last five weeks. My blood sugar is way better this time, but he is bigger. So who knows? I should also say I'm in the US.

 

[HellBunny]

Both my babies were of diabetic pregnancies.My first baby the hospital mucked my GTT result up so i didn't know until 34 weeks, he was fine at birth, he was abit sleepy and his sugars were on the low side but he was fine, fed ok and no problems!
Second baby, diabetes was very well controlled, we fed immediatley and his sugars were only checked twice as they both readings were very good, he fed and fed and fed (was breastfed) and was very alert.

We had to stay in both times for 24hours but after that we went home x

ETA they didn't take them away to test their sugars, they just did it in the same room whilst i held them x

 

[minties]

Thanks so much! I'd like to go to my midwife armed with a bit of knowledge, so this helps a lot.