Gestational Diabetes and Natural Birthing?

[eastkygal]

My sister is 27 weeks along with her 3rd child this Friday. She had both of her previous children naturally. They weighed 5.6lbs and 7lbs. She is under the care of an OB who has responded very well to her wanting to birth this baby naturally as well, especially since she did the previous two. However, she just found out that she has gestational diabetes and her levels are through the roof. They did a vaginal ultrasound of the baby and he is weighing in at 3.8lbs. She gained 10lbs. in 3 weeks eating normally. They haven't mentioned c-section to her yet, but did say that they would induce her at 36-37 weeks, and she is now high risk.

I will be acting as her birth coach. I had an unnecessary c-section for "big baby" at the hospital she will be delivering at - though different doc. I don't want her to go through an unnecessary surgery. The doctor is saying that to goal is to keep mama and baby healthy and baby under 9lbs. I'm expecting them to give her an ultrasound every time she turns around to "weigh" him. They have already made her watch a video on natural labor and birthing and sign a waiver saying she was fully informed, so she can't sue them for it hurting too bad or something - protocol. We live in a city that is c-section happy and not very supportive of natural childbirth. In fact, there aren't any midwives here unless you are doing homebirth and go direct entry. My sis isn't comfortable with that.

I just want to be fully prepared, and I want her to be fully prepared for what might happen. It may be we have to fight a doc, or may not. I just don't want mama and baby to suffer anymore than might be necessary.

If you have experienced gestational diabetes, I'd love to hear your experience and share it with my sis. Both the good and bad. I want to get a mama's perspective.

Thanks mamas.

[turtlewomyn]

I was coerced into having a c-section for big baby and the ob told me they had missed GD (I think now this was all a lie though). I have been trying to read up on GD for next time, and a really good resource is a website: www.plus-size-pregnancy.org
Despite the name it has a lot of good information for women of all sizes, and she has several sections for GD information and birthing naturally with GD.
And I think you should be concerned about your sister. Inductions are dangerous when there is no medical need, and yes, she is in danger of having them push a c-section on her.

[Maggi315]

I have lots of opinions on GD since I had it with my last pregnancy. I found an absolute wonderful endo who was supportive of homebirth. First of all, I chose to go straight to the insulin. why? well, it is a hormone that doesn't cross the placenta and affords you great, tight control. Second, I counted carbs and protein every day and really tried hard not to cheat (too much, I'm not a saint). Third, a big baby is NOT an indication for a c-section, that is a total load of crap. There are people having 11-12 lb. babies at home, I have delivered many "large" babies at home, ALL of my big babies have SLID out once we got them low enough. My key: don't push until you can't help yourself, not when you automatically get to 10cm and also get into a great position (not lithotomy)!

You can pm me for more info about my experiences with GD and homebirth.