gestational diabetes -- how does it affect my chances of a vaginal birth?

[Anonymous]

I just found out that I have gestational diabetes yesterday. I'm pretty disappointed. I am hoping for a vaginal birth. Assuming I get my sugars under control, does anyone have insight on how this affects my chances for a vaginal birth? I would appreciate hearing about anyone's experince with this. I realize it's impossible to tell at this stage. I've wanted to prevent excess intervention, and now that I'm "high risk" I feel like this may be more difficult. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think the biggest threat would be a too-large baby. They may want to induce you early if they think the baby is getting too big, and inducements are more likely to lead to c-section.

I didn't have a c section but did have a big baby - 9lbs 3 oz. Delivered vaginally, with an epidural and no episiotomy, a few internal stitches. More than 2 hours of pushing.

For what it's worth, if your baby does seem on the big side, I'd recommend an epidural. There is NO WAY I could have pushed my 9 pounder out without the benefit of the rest and the naps that the epidural provided. His head was enormous. I think I would've been too tired and weak, and would have ended up having a c-section.

[Anonymous]

I had diet controlled gestational diabetes with blood sugars under control. Toward the end, my ob thought my baby was getting on the larger size and we induced at 39 weeks. I had a vaginal delivery with an epidural and 30 minutes of pushing -- baby was 8 pounds, 14 ounces. I had a few stiches, but no episiotomy.

Although the diet sucks, I was really glad that I followed it religiously because even with only a few high readings, my baby was still almost 9 pounds.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to say that I disagree with the poster who said that you should get an epidural if you have a big baby. Do your best to avoid an epidural. A 9lber is going to be as uncomfortable as a 7 pounder.

Also, the ACOG does not recommend inducing because of the baby's size. So as long as you are proactive with your birth, you should be able to deliver vaginally. Don't let an OB coerce you into something you don't want. I know of someone who had a C because of GD and a "large" baby. The baby wasn't even close to 8 pounds!

[Anonymous]

Both my mom and my aunt had gestational diabetes and they both delivered vaginally without any special intervention. My mom, of course, delivered in the 70s when things were different. But my aunt's youngest is only 7, so her circumstances are more, uhm current.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks so much for your input. It helps a lot!

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that it really depends a lot on the attitude of your care provider toward proactive (read: unnecessary) interventions. Studies show that merely having the GD label makes one more likely to have a c-section. So I would have a sit-down with her or him and make sure you are on the same page.

[Anonymous]

I am a poster who has burned up the threads trash-talking the GD test. Never one to keep my views to myself, I shared all of my worries with my doctor. When I told him my worries that I'd be considered "high risk" and potentially put on an induction / c-section track if I was diagnosed with GD, he told me that first of all, he does not believe in using ultrasounds to measure babies size or weight as they are notoriously wrong (nod to PP who mentioned friend's early induction only to have an 8 lb baby). Second, he said that we would not even begin to consider induction prior to 40 weeks because of GD. Third, he said that considering a 9 lb baby "huge" was quite relative. He personally would not automatically recommend a c-section for a 9 or even 10 lb baby even if he were sure of the size, and he mentioned that it is very difficult to be sure of the size. OP, when you meet with your doctor, my advice is to clearly lay out your concerns for him / her. So many of the doctors expect a woman to prefer to be induced at even the hint of a large baby, or prefer a c-section at the hint of a difficult labor, that they may not even know you are concerned. Once I brought up my worries, my doctor reassured me that my choices and preferences would be respected and that he would counsel me about the risks and benefits of each possible treatment and action as they come up. I found this very reassuring, especially since I question the accuracy of the test (at least, for marginal numbers).

Either way, good luck! I hope everything works out perfectly for a happy and healthy mom and baby.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add--I had a friend who had GD, and they predicted her baby to be "huge"... and she had a vaginal delivery with a 7 pound, perfectly healthy baby.

[Anonymous]

Gestational Diabtetes with both pregnancies, here--both diet/exercise controlled. Baby #1--induced at 38 1/2 weeks due to very low amniotic fluid, born vaginally/unmedicated, 6# 1oz. Baby #2--41 weeks 2 days, labor started spontaneously, born vaginally/unmedicated, 8# 4oz.

Good luck!!!