Gestational Diabetes & Stillbirth - Xpost

[halo8]

Okay, please help me out here. I just had my 39 week visit with my doc and told her that I would like to wait at least until week 41 before considering induction (she has wanted to induce me at 40 wks due to GD) So I talk to her about it and she says of course I can't force you to do it, but I will need to 'put a note in your file that you know the risks and refused induction" and I need to let you know that the risk of stillbirth goes up 50% after 40 weeks with GD.

Is this true or is it a typical scare tactic? My GD has been well under control for the past 2 or 3 months although I am on insulin at night.

Is there some arbitrary day that all of a sudden the risk of stillbirth just goes up? It doesn't make much sense to me - how can one week make such a difference?

[paquerette]

Henci Goer says no. http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregna...9z3m-3,00.html

Hope that helps!

[halo8]

Thank you for this article - it is very helpful!

[bobandjess99]

did she say the risk goes up 50%, or goes up TO 50%
Those are very different things.
for example, saying the risk goes up 50% means that if the original risk is 1%, then it would be going up to 1.5% - a 50% increase. but still a very small risk.
That is VASTLY different from the rate BEING 50%. See the semantical change there?

[halo8]

Yes, she did say the risk goes up 50%, and when I remembered that, I realized exactly what you said. However, she didn't tell me what the original stats were.

[bobandjess99]

According to a study done here http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7232/444/a the risk of stillbirth at
40 weeks is .087%
41 weeks .127%
42 weeks .155%
43 weeks .213%

So technically, I guess the rate does go up significantly...it nearly doubles from week 41 to week 43. However, even at week 43, the risk is still POINT 2 percent.


Peraps you will see it differently, but personally, I would be comfortable doubling my risk from point one to point two percent.

[Reha]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

According to a study done here http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7232/444/a the risk of stillbirth at
40 weeks is .087%
41 weeks .127%
42 weeks .155%
43 weeks .213%

But this study isn't particular to GD (or did I miss something when I read it??

My understanding of GD and stillbirth is that there is NO connection. Type 1 and 2 diabetes: YES. But, in those few studies that do associate GD with increased risk of stillbirth, there is no differentiating between those women with undiagnosed TRUE diabetes (type 2 usually) but are labeled with GD and those women who have elevated blood sugars (a phenomenon which is NORMAL in pregnancy).

Henci Goer (referenced above by a PP) is an awesome resource when it comes to GD.

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by Lennon

My understanding of GD and stillbirth is that there is NO connection. Type 1 and 2 diabetes: YES. But, in those few studies that do associate GD with increased risk of stillbirth, there is no differentiating between those women with undiagnosed TRUE diabetes (type 2 usually) but are labeled with GD and those women who have elevated blood sugars (a phenomenon which is NORMAL in pregnancy).

Henci Goer (referenced above by a PP) is an awesome resource when it comes to GD.

my limited understand was right along those lines.