C section or wait?

kaitlinforrest

I have gestational diabetes and my baby has been measuring about 2 weeks ahead the entire time. Today my doctor confirmed that we will be taking him around 37-38 weeks. He told me I had the choice of inducing or c section. He told me of all of the possible scenarios of babies with GD moms- such as getting stuck in the birth canal.

I feel in my gut it's best to go ahead and schedule the c section. This is my first and I always wanted to have a natural birth, but at this point I'm more concerned for his health versus my preferred birth plan.

Any moms with GD or past moms with GD that had a similar delimma? I want to make sure I'm not overreacting I guess. Looking for more of supporting words than answers.

*Please don't comment on the fact that my doctor is taking him early, I am 100% okay with this considering him being too big and causing health problems.

SummerFall03

I know how frustrating this can be. I wanted to have a vaginal birth, but ended up having a c section because I was having twins. One would have been delivered vaginally, the other would have had to be a c section. I know it isn't the same situation as GD, but I think if there is a higher risk of the baby being stuck in the birth canal, I would personally schedule the c section to avoid any complications that the doctor mentions.

Hope all goes well for you and baby!

jenbstevens

If a c-section feels right then you should go for it. It's better than having a traumatic/difficult birth because baby is too big.

blended10

During my first pregnancy I had this sort of gut feeling that if a c-sect was required I would be ok with it. Fast-forward to 38 weeks preggo & I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. We chose to induce. Began Tuesday night at 8pm & Thursday morning at 8am I was hardly dialated. They offered to manually dialate me over the next 12 hours (no thanks) or do a c-section. We did the c - best choice bc my son was surrounded in meconium & had he sat in that for another 12 hours God knows.

Long story - short point - even if you induce you may end up with a c-sect. Go with your gut. Good luck!!

jessjess80

try to get induced first its so much better to have a vaginal birth 

macdeezy

a c-section is major abdominal surgery.
i had a scheduled section with my first because she was breach. i know this is a different circumstance, but i would REALLY recommend trying a natural birth first.
so much better for mommy and baby.

SummerFall03

jessjess80 said:

try to get induced first its so much better to have a vaginal birth 

Not in all cases.

kynbar5

macdeezy said:

a c-section is major abdominal surgery.
i had a scheduled section with my first because she was breach. i know this is a different circumstance, but i would REALLY recommend trying a natural birth first.
so much better for mommy and baby.

A "natural" birth isn't always "so much better for mommy and baby". Generally whatever gets the baby out healthy and keeps "mommy" healthy too is "so much better" than anything. OP, do what you and your doctor think is the best way to go. Like I said, at the end of the day a heathy mom and baby are all that matters

delujm0

A close friend of mine (so close i was in the room for her DD's birth) had GD and her doctor insisted that she could not go past 39 weeks without an induction.  She was induced at 39 weeks exactly.  She had the cervical ripening agent placed at 11pm and the baby was born at 1pm the next day.  It was really fast.  I mean she pushed like 3 times and her DD came right out (let me tell you how jealous i was about that when i had my own DD 10.5 months later and had to push for 2.5 hours!)  She was dilated to about 1cm and baby had dropped pretty low when she was induced.

 

Is there a reason your doctor wants to do 37-38 weeks instead of 39, other than the potential size?  I ask because my friend had an ultrasound a few days before her induction and was told that the baby was "at least 8lbs."  She was born weighing just barely 6.5lbs.  Ultrasound size estimates are notoriously inaccurate.  Now, if you are scheduling a C section, i can see doing that at 38 weeks...doctors like to schedule those on the early side to reduce the risk of you going into labor on your own before hand.  But if you are going to be induced would you be able to wait it out?  i would ask your doctor about this.  I would not have wanted to deliver early just because the baby might be large.  i know plenty of women who successfully pushed out 9+ pund babies and recovered completely normally.  i understand that a large baby is a concern with GD, but it is not a definite outcome (as my friend would attest).

 

Personally, and especially after i learned what an actual C-section entails in my birth class, I wanted to avoid a C-section if at all possible.  If DD was breech i would have just booked it and accepted it, but otherwise i really wanted to try to have her vaginally.  Recovery was a breeze...i felt physically fine within about a week (other than my boobs...the first two weeks of breastfeeding are a cyclone of pain).  My mom had two C-sections and had rough recoveries.  But on the other hand, a close friend had a C-Section and then was vacuuming her house the day she got home from the hospital.  it completely depends on the person.

 

Additionally, i have two friends that recently delivered at 37 weeks.  The babies were both fine and didn't require NICU time, but neither of them was able to latch and successfully breastfeed.  They both exclusively pump.  There can be non-serious drawbacks to having a baby early that i would want to avoid if possible.

Parker16772

kynbar5 said:

a c-section is major abdominal surgery. i had a scheduled section with my first because she was breach. i know this is a different circumstance, but i would REALLY recommend trying a natural birth first. so much better for mommy and baby.

A "natural" birth isn't always "so much better for mommy and baby". Generally whatever gets the baby out healthy and keeps "mommy" healthy too is "so much better" than anything. OP, do what you and your doctor think is the best way to go. Like I said, at the end of the day a heathy mom and baby are all that matters

This exactly. As someone who ended up with a c-section with DS1 due to Pre-E I will say after all is said and done you won't care how your baby got here just that they are here and you are both healthy. Honestly I would feel most comfortable with the c-section since that is what your OB is recommending. 

SummerFall03

Parker16772 said:

kynbar5 said:

a c-section is major abdominal surgery. i had a scheduled section with my first because she was breach. i know this is a different circumstance, but i would REALLY recommend trying a natural birth first. so much better for mommy and baby.

A "natural" birth isn't always "so much better for mommy and baby". Generally whatever gets the baby out healthy and keeps "mommy" healthy too is "so much better" than anything. OP, do what you and your doctor think is the best way to go. Like I said, at the end of the day a heathy mom and baby are all that matters

This exactly. As someone who ended up with a c-section with DS1 due to Pre-E I will say after all is said and done you won't care how your baby got here just that they are here and you are both healthy. Honestly I would feel most comfortable with the c-section since that is what your OB is recommending. 

So much this. I really wanted to have my children vaginally, but it just wasn't the case. I ended up with a c section and I really enjoyed the experience! I would love the option to do a vbac, but I'm doing what is the safest option for me and my little lady.

I know not everyone will enjoy a c section, but I also have friends who have had nightmare experiences in vaginal delivery. Unfortunately you cannot control the outcome and experience entirely. Just as long as everyone is safe in the end, it is all that should matter.

macdeezy

i was just saying, that if you can labor naturally, it is scientifically proven to be better for mom and baby.
not once did i say it is "ALWAYS" better.
not once did i say that if she were to labor naturally, she would deliver vaginally.

obviously there are exceptions, just as there is for everything else in this world.

this woman asked for opinions, so i gave mine.
i had a c-section with my first, and if i would of had the option, i would of labored naturally.

jessielynn1

I had gd with my last pregnancy and I was also told they were going to take her at 37 weeks. I choose to try the induction process and was able to deliver vaginally. This certainly wouldn't be the case for everyone with gd just something to consider that it is possible.

itstheblackwidowbaby

You don't mention how far along you are, but would it be possible to make the call closer to your doctor's cut off? I feel like you'd have a better chance of a successful induction if your body is beginning to show signs of prepping for labor (cervix ripening/dilating) than still being locked up tight and trying to induce.

I'm having a big boy according to everyone medical I've seen in the past month and I so wish I could at least try to have him vaginally. He's breech and I'm 39 weeks tomorrow so it looks like a c-section for me. Not because I think there's any wrong way to get a baby out, but because I'm terrified of the thought of being awake for surgery - always have been.

AlabamaWorley

I have never had GD, but my first got stuck after a long labor and manual dilation. His heart rate plummeted and I was rushed in for a c/s. He was actually born with a cone head, that's how stuck he was! It was a terrifying few minutes between him going into distress to hearing him cry once they delivered him. I never want to go through that feeling again which is why I have opted for rcs.
You have to make this decision for yourself, but that's just my experience.

tdart14

There are a lot of benefits to vaginal births. It helps clear out the baby lungs, introduce good bacteria, etc. I would say try induction, and if that fails move to a c-section.

Have you discussed each option with your doctor? Does he/she think one way or the other would be a better fit for you?