How can GD affect the way you deliver?

[dreamer_x]

I'm curious as to whether any of you have been diagnosed with GD and told you can't deliver your baby in a certain way? Did you have to change your birth plan?
I got a letter through the post yesterday - the hospital had send my GP a letter telling them that they'd diagnosed me with GD and wouldn't be going back to the practice for antenatal care and that my OB has discussed with me how this will affect the timing and way of delivery...which they haven't! They've told me that they won't let me go more than a week overdue and if I have to go on medication or insulin then they'll be doing extra scans and they'll be inducing me, which is fine with me, but I haven't been told how it's going to impact the way I deliver?
I'm back at the clinic next Tuesday so I'm going to ask the question but I was wondering whether anyone had any insight before then?
I quite like the idea of a water birth but I have a feeling I'm not going to be allowed that :/ plus I really don't want an epidural...are they going to want me to have one just to make it easier for them?

 

[pinkbump2011]

Hi, I don't have GD I do have type 1 though and looking at your post do you not think they mean way of delivery in that if you do take medication they will induce you. There is no restrictions that I know of if this is your first baby. I wouldn't worry about it I'm sure it will be explained to you at the next visit x

 

[rayraykay]

With my experience- GD will not change the way I deliver. Since I have been able to control my GD thru diet and exercise alone, my OB will not induce me nor schedule a C-section. The baby has always measured right on the spot, my OB isn't concerned she is too big at all. (I have a growth scan in a week to make sure she isn't missing anything.) The changes come in when a baby grows too big & you can't vaginally deliver without risk to the baby. Some OBs will induce ANY GD patient at 39 weeks, or won't let their patients go past 40 weeks. It all depends on the doctor. I think patients on meds are also universally induced between 39-40 weeks.

Depending on your doctor ( I can't speak for certain because I don't know your doctor) you will for sure be able to forgo an epidural. I am planning on a natural birth. My doctor is totally okay with that. As far as a water birth goes, I am planning on using the tub in my room for during labor and contractions but am not planning to deliver in the water, so that is something you can ask your doctor. Just take all your questions, they should be able to reassure you.

 

[salamander91]

I have type 2 diabetes so not sure if its the same guidelines but I'm not allowed a waterbirth because I'll constantly be wearing a monitor to keep a trace on baby and can't take that in the water.

Pain relief is completely your choice though. I can't see how having an epidural would make it easier for them.

 

[monkee12]

Depending on how your diabetes is managed, it can affect certain ways of giving birth due to them needing to constantly monitor baby x

 

[dreamer_x]

I'm just managing it by diet at the moment, I know that if I'm put on metformin then they'll induce me at 40 weeks and have me in for more appointments and scans etc, and that if it stays diet controlled then they'll induce me if I get to 41 weeks, but no one has said anything so far about the birth etc.
I'm definitely going to ask next week, I'm hoping that if I can control it by diet, I can have everything else the way I want it!

 

[rayraykay]

That sounds totally routine. If you continue to manage it by diet- you should be totally okay to go over 40 weeks if you want to. Remember, if you do end up needing medication... IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!!!!!! Don't be afraid to as your doctor 8 million questions. I ask mine so many each appointment, she helps reassure me so much that GD IS NOT high risk unless it's uncontrolled.

 

[crystals5648]

I had GD with my first baby. I was told when I was diagnosed that it was very unlikely that I would be able to have a water birth, which was really their way of saying there was no way I could have one. I was very upset about it at the time. I worked really hard to maintain my levels with diet and exercise (I ended up losing weight during my pregnancy because of this, and I wasn't overweight beforehand), however ended up on Metformin.

My baby measured quite big, so everyone talked about inducing me at 39 weeks. However my waters broken at 36 weeks and I went into labour naturally. Because baby was prem., both of us had to be constantly hooked up to monitors throughout, so a water birth was not possible for other reasons. I was given full choice regarding pain relief and opted for just a little gas and air.