Natural Birth and GD

ac5008

This is my 3rd pregnancy - I was induced with my first, went epi free. I went into labor on my own with my second, also epi free.

This is my first pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes. I am getting different answers as to wether I will be allowed to go into labor naturally or if I will have to be induced at 39 weeks because of the GD.

I was looking for any success stories of women who have labored naturally with GD - induced or otherwise! Im hoping to avoid any intervention at all, but I get nervous the closer I get. 

utlawgirl

It will largely depend on your provider and how well-controlled your GD is. I went into labor on my own with DD at 37w4d and had a successful natural birth, and I had GD. It was well-controlled and my midwife/OB team would have allowed me to go to 41 weeks before talking induction. 

I'd definitely talk to your provider now about whether they will allow you to go post-term, assuming you are able to keep the GD in control with diet and everything otherwise looks good (you'll probably have NSTs at the very least in the last few weeks), and what options you will have. I'd also recommend researching, the risks of going post-term with GD, though -- there is some scary stuff out there. I was cleared to start trying natural induction techniques at 36 weeks -- the normal stuff like EPO, RRL tea, chiropractor, etc, but I would've had a harder decision to face had I made it past full term.

MrsBigTime

I had GD and was able to have a successful NB. I fought hard to stay with my MW practice, and in fact, I was the first woman to stay with them as my primary team instead of switching over to the physician partners in our clinic. The caveat was that I saw a high risk specialist as well, but my MW remained my primary team. I was also unable to control my fasting sugars with diet and exercise so I was on 2.5 mg of Glyburide daily.

My MW was willing to let me go to full-term, but the specialist strongly encouraged inducing early. My DH and I decided to allow induction at 39 weeks, which both teams were OK with. I started bi-weekly NSTs at 35 weeks but asked to not have a growth U/S because I didn't want to risk and earlier induction because of size (I was measuring right on track externally).

Considering my impending induction, my MW was more invasive with trying to induce labor than normal and we started stripping my membranes at 37 weeks. She also encouraged me to get acupuncture for cervical ripening, which I did starting at 37 weeks as well. I also pumped for nipple stimulation and went for long walks nightly.

My plan for induction was to have a foley-bulb placed overnight before starting pitocin the next day. They prepped me for a long process because they would try to have as intervention-low induction as possible, if that makes any sense.

I never needed to be induced, though, because the night before I was scheduled for it I went into labor after pumping. I delivered my baby, medication free, 12 hours later at 39 weeks exactly. I don't know if I would have gone into labor without my attempts to start it or if because I finally was totally at peace with the decision to induce (it took me a while). 

Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best of luck! My biggest advice is to know your options, do everything you can to control your GD and seek care from a provider you trust implicitly.

HannahsHope

I had/have GD with my 1st (and now 2nd) pregnancy. I am diet controlled and went into labor naturally at 40wks exactly. I had a LONG labor, and did have an epi, so I can't speak for an entirely natural birth. However, I can give encouragement that not all GD moms are induced