Hi everyone,
I'm 29, pregnant with my first, and during this pregnancy it was discovered I have gestational diabetes. It was also discovered that I have PCOS and insulin resistance so the GD really wasn't a big surprise one we put all the pieces together. I had classic symptoms of PCOS (inability to shed my last 20lb even as a runner, dark spots in my armpits). Infertility, obviously, was not a symptom I experienced.
My sugars were very hard to get under control. They are now, for the most part. I'm on insulin and I've gained about 35lb.
Let me say first that I have AWESOME care providers - I'm in CA and I'm seeing practitioners at Sutter Davis. They offer midwife care, water birth, etc. They have the 3rd lowest C section rate in the state (17%). They are ok with me going to 40 weeks. As I understand it, the practice around here is to induce GD moms at 38 weeks or so. They don't want me to go much past 40. I had a long conversation with the OB yesterday. I am currently doing NSTs and amniotic fluid checks twice a week and so far the baby looks great. She said that the tests do tell us that the baby is doing fine AT THIS MOMENT but the first indication of the placenta "wearing out" (which is a concern with GD) is low fluid. She said that most women come to their facility wanting no interventions, so if they are GD and get to 40 weeks, they want a few more days to see if labor starts. She said that it's better to induce at 40 weeks because the placenta has a higher probability of deterioration faster at 40, and there's a chance that if you induce after 40 weeks, the placenta won't be able to sustain the baby through labor and he could be in distress and we could end up with a C section anyway.
She also was very open that induction doubles the risk of C section. So basically, it's a gamble either way.
My due date is June 15th. I have my last appointment on that day and probably they will want to start induction on the 16th if nothing's happening.
I had tons of irregular contractions at 36 and 37 weeks. My body has been "quiet" for a week. When I was examined at 37 weeks, my cervix was softening and I was dialated to 1 cm. I'm at 38 weeks and 5 days now.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I want to trust my providers since they have been nothing but respectful, fantastic, and I don't think they are being alarmist, necessarily. However I want to spare my body and baby the stress of induction. I realize this is one of those situations where I may need to just pick the best option and hope for the best.
Of course, best case scenario would be that I go into labor on my own. I had thought this would happen at 36 or 37 weeks when I was having contractions, but that seems to have stopped for now.
I tend to lean towards the middle ground and trust my providers so that is where I am coming from.
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