If you have GD do you always have to be induced?

[kimberleyski]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with GD yesterday at 30 weeks. They have given me no info so far and it's making me panic as I'd like to know as much as possible.

I thought maybe if you could keep it diet controlled you might not have to be induced early as I know in our area you are def induced at 38 weeks if you have GD and are insulin controlled.

However after speaking to a friend yesterday as she had GD and was insulin controlled. She thought that you were induced no matter what even if you did have it under control with diet.

Do any of you ladies know? I'm sure each area is different I just thought I find out the majority as at the moment nobody seems to be able to tell me.

 

[TripleB]

Hi there. I was initially diet-controlled and later was put on insulin. In my area (which follows the NICE guidelines), induction is offered at 38-39 weeks if you are insulin-controlled and no later than 40 weeks if you are diet-controlled. A lot depends on your own circumstances - the size of the baby, any placenta degradation etc. Please don't worry though, you should be well looked after - do you have a full appointment soon?

I just noticed you are in Surrey - I am at Frimley Park so you could be the same?

xxx

 

[kimberleyski]

Ooh yay I'm Frimley Park too. I don't know when I have a full appointment they haven't told me anything at the mo. I was only diagnosed yesterday when the doc rung me with the results. She didn't even say what my blood sugar levels were.

I have an appointment with the midwife next Fri so hoping she will tell me more....I think I have to have a hospital appoint?

So many appointments lol I'm sure work think I'm lying about most of them!!

 

[Newky]

Hi, I was told at my first appointment with the diabetic midwife that if I remain diet controlled then I will only be induced if I reach 41 weeks. My sugars have been fine and I have remained diet controlled, so I am assuming that this is still the case, as no more has been said on the issue. I think if they were going to induce early they would speak to me about it at my 36 week appointment next week, so hopefully I will get some clarification then. TBH if they do suggest induction before 40 weeks i'm going to resist, as I feel there is no need (unless my sugars start to go haywire, obviously!).

I know it's difficult but try not to panic. Once you speak to your diabetic team and get some answers you will feel loads better about the situation. When is your appointment? x

 

[TripleB]

In which case, don't panic Kimberley, you will be very well looked after - the diabetic team at FPH are great!

You'll probably get a call from the diabetic midwife soon and she'll arrange an appointment for you to go to the antenatal clinic at the hosptial. They will show you how to test your blood sugar and you'll see the dietician who will advise on diet-control. Initially they will try this without insulin. I successfully managed with diet alone for 5 weeks but when my fasting blood sugar started to creep up they put me on one dose of insulin a day and its working a treat. At the first appointment they will explain the induction policy and then you'll have fortnightly appointments - including growth scans (they are on a Monday afternoon and each one takes a few hours unfortunately) - you have your blood taken, see the obstetrician, diabetic consultant and midwife. I believe they discuss induction at the 36 week appointment - next week for me! I am expecting to be induced around 39 weeks.

You can always refuse induction - and there is the chance you will go into labour naturally but I promise you that you will be looked after and once you've got your head around having GD you'll be fine.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other Qs!

xxx

 

[kimberleyski]

Thanks TripleB that has helped loads especially coz it's the same advice as I will get due to being at the same hosp.

I must admit the care I have received at Frimley has been great, and everyone else I have spoken to who gets care there says the same, so we're lucky to be at such a good hosp as plenty of people don't seem to be!

At least I go on Maternity leave on the 20th Jan as I think work are starting to get annoyed with the amount of appointments I now have. Midwife every 3 weeks, I have physio for my SPD and now have antenatal classes every week for 2 hours! lol

Although I don't want to have GD at least I will get to see LO every 2 weeks, every cloud I guess......

 

[TripleB]

Oh tell me about it - I have had so much time off - pretty much every Monday! Luckily my boss is ok about it - just remember you're entitled to it! I have 7 working days left until maternity leave and it can't come soon enough!

You will be reassured about how closely they keep an eye on your little one. I find it hard to believe now how few appointments some of my pregnant friends are having. Hopefully you'll get a nice sonographer - there are a few at FPH that are a bit quick for my liking but others are lovely and will take the time to give you a quick peek at your LO's face again - love it!

xxx

 

[kimberleyski]

Yeah must admit I didn't like the sonographer at my 12 week scan or my 20 week scan lol but had to go to the delivery suite once for an Anti-D injection and the midwifes were so lovely up there. I go to physio there too, and they have always been great.

Well now I will look forward to it rather than be petrified of going. Am going to try and control it with Diet as best I can from now, although I won't really know if I am doing well I can at least cut any rubbish out.

How exciting for you, going on maternity leave in 7 days and also meeting your LO soon as you'll get your induction date!

 

[ejsmom]

I was induced for both my pregnancies even though my GD was well controlled with diet. My OB says doesn't like to risk the quality of the placenta too much after 38 weeks.. She says that it matures faster than people who don't have GD.

Ultimately, I think it depends on the doc and his/her train of thought..there are so many studies that this and that..so they try to do the best they can..

Good Luck..

 

[Caezzybe]

I was under the care of Frimley Park as well and had diet controlled GD. They do induce all GD ladies, I seem to remember it's 38 weeks for insulin dependent and no later than 40 weeks for diet controlled. I had a spontaneous delivery after I went into labour at home at 38+5 (I got to the delivery room 27 minutes before Logan was born, he nearly arrived in the car!). My induction date was scheduled for 1st September, 2 days before my due date, but Logan arrived on 25th August.

The diabetic team at Frimley were really nice. I did have issues at first, but they were my issues and caused by me because I'm terrified of needles and didn't want to go on insulin. If you receive the same care as me, you will probably get to be scanned once every four weeks or so and have your blood sugar records looked at every time you attend

The diabetic midwife in particular is absolutely lovely and so is the consultant. You've made a good choice of hospital, they really look after you there

 

[TripleB]

Absolutely, the diabetic midwife (Sally) usually has a queue of people waiting to see her because she's so lovely! The current policy is 38-39 weeks for insulin-controlled, depending on your circumstances. I hope I go into labour before my induction date Caezzy! xxx

 

[kimberleyski]

Absolutely, the diabetic midwife (Sally) usually has a queue of people waiting to see her because she's so lovely! The current policy is 38-39 weeks for insulin-controlled, depending on your circumstances. I hope I go into labour before my induction date Caezzy! xxx

Get having sex TripleB and eat that pineapple! Lol

 

[TripleB]

I told my hubby last night that the sex-ban is lifted at 37 weeks xxx

 

[kimberleyski]

Lol I bet he's very pleased! Mine is already getting excited at the though of helping bring the labour on.....
The midwife told us if baby is not in the right position getting on all fours helps. OH has warned me there would be consequences if I did this! lol

 

[codegirl]

Hi there. I was initially diet-controlled and later was put on insulin. In my area (which follows the NICE guidelines), induction is offered at 38-39 weeks if you are insulin-controlled and no later than 40 weeks if you are diet-controlled. A lot depends on your own circumstances - the size of the baby, any placenta degradation etc.
xxx

This is the same as what I have been told. My doula and I are going to spend the month of feb trying to get my body ready for delivery so maybe, just maybe I won't need to be induced. She said she has some "tricks up her sleeve" so I'm looking forward to that homework

 

[luna28]

hi there here are some links that may be helpful, this one is a video diary of a woman with gd who had a homebirth https://www.mybirth.tv/video-diary.cfm?id=10 and the homebirth.org.uk website https://www.homebirth.org.uk/has some good info about how a natural birth is still possible with gd if well controlled.

 

[Tanikit]

I have type 1 diabetes so am on insulin and in my two pregnancies I have been treated very very differently - the first pregnancy I had a lot more appointments and was induced at 38 weeks. This time I will only move to every second week appointments from 33 weeks and it never goes to once a week unless there is a problem. There has been no discussion so far about induction and I prefer it that way - while my doctor does say I should be able to give birth vaginally I will just wait and see as my number one priority is a healthy baby.

My sugars are reasonably well controlled (for a diabetic on insulin with MDIs) and so far they have been happy with everything, but its still a way to go til the birth and anything can happen. Try not to worry too much - it sounds like you are in good hands, and also by 38 weeks it is sometimes nice to know baby will be here very soon - those last weeks can be very long! (As you said, every cloud has a silver lining - try stay positive)

 

[Sarah10]

Hi i was diet controlled and was induced at 39 weeks, here if you are on insulin/metaformin you are indiced at 38 weeks xxx