Giving birth

[Willow]

My sister is in hospital at the moment about to give birth to her first child, I'm so excited!

Anyway, what I want to ask is that if my husband & I decide to have a family will I be able to give birth naturally? It's just that I'm sure I've always been told in the past that diabetics must have a c-section.

Thnx

[BeadieJay]

Willow, how exciting - I hope all goes well, and look forward to hearing whether you've a niece or a nephew.

Sorry, can't help with your question - I had my kids before I was diabetic.

[Willow]

Thnx BeadleJay, my sister has had 3 miscarriages before so this is so special to us. I already know the sex but I promissed I wouldn't tell so you'll have to wait until he/she is here!

[BeadieJay]

I'm so sorry about the miscarriages, you must all be so relieved that this moment has finally come, and how exciting too.

I shouldn't say this - but I nearly wrote "look forward to hearing if you're an aunt or an uncle"...........but then realised how stupid that was LOL :stupid:

[nantomsuethom]

Willow

Congratulations to your sister and her hubby!!

I used to work in the nursery at the hospital and many diabetic women gave birth naturally. A lot of babies of diabetic moms are big, some very big, and thats when they will do a c-s.

Babies are what I miss most about not working in the hospital anymore. It is a very exciting time!!

Nancy

[LauRa Lu]

Originally posted by Willow
I already know the sex but I promissed I wouldn't tell so you'll have to wait until he/she is here!

You'll have to post some pictures too.. :p so we can all she how cute she/he is. Is this your first niece or nephew too?

I do worry about when i decide to have children, I was told by my doctor thats its common for diabetic women to spend most of their pregnancy in hospital so that they can be monitored fully. I don't know how true that is though.

:)

[amyjean]

Willow,

I am diabetic and gave birth(the natural way) to a beautiful 10 pound 6 ounce baby girl. What a blessing! I think it probably depends on the diabetic and their health, but it is possible.

Let us know how your sister is doing.

[gettingby]

Willow,
Sorry, but I had to have a c-section. I am only 5'1" and my daughter weighed 11lbs. 12 1/2oz.

[mg_2204]

... I had two natural births and the last baby was delivered by c-section.

Sometimes the problem is the size of the baby. Mine were 8.5 lbs (full term), 11 lbs (38 weeks) and the last one 9.5 lbs (36 weeks). It was my doctor who was nervous about a natural birth for my last one, not me! :D

It all depends how the pregnancy goes, and the best advice I can give is don't wait towards the end of the pregnancy to start talking about birth options...

The recovery was easier for me after a natural birth. Having a C-section, I'd recommend anyone to have a bit of help from perhaps an understanding mother or mother-in-law. A sister? Someone to cook and clean while you rest and bond with your newborn. I was that lucky after our 3rd child and it made a world of difference. Especially when you have a 17 month old toddler running after you who wants to play with the 'new doll' you've brought home...

New life, isn't that wonderful? The best to your sister!

Marie
:)

[mg_2204]

... I must add that there is a bonus when having a scheduled c-section : no contractions!

The downside : I just couldn't go to sleep after the birth. I was too excited! And compared to hours of labor, I had a good night sleep before the op, I was well rested and energetic. I just wanted to get up and walk about and have time with my baby and jump on the telephone and have a shower and and and a thousand other things!! Needless to say, the nurses had a real hard time with me...

Marie
:)

[Littlebit63_99]

Willow,

I had two very normal pregnacies. Would have had them naturally, except the liitle dolls were breach and I have very narrow hips. I wasn't in the hospital at all untill the birth. Control, control, control. Good luck to you when you decide to do it. There is nothing better than parenting. I think it is life's biggest challenge and greatest reward.:)

[Eri's mom]

Congrats to your sister and her husband on their baby!!! Looking forward to hearing if you have a niece or a nephew :)
My sister's first is due in April...she had a miscarriage years ago and it has taken her 13 yrs to get pregnant again...but she is, and she's 13 weeks along now I believe :)

A lot of my friends had gestational diabetes(I was always borderline)...and all but one had natural births.

I know w/ my kids, I'm 5' even and then weighed no more than 96lbs, but my son was 2 weeks early and 8 lbs, my Eri was 6 weeks preemie and 7lbs4oz, and my youngest was 3 1/2 weeks early and 8lbs 11oz.

I have a friend who was 13 lbs at birth and his sister was 11.5lbs...(seperate)...but I'm not sure if the mom was diabetic...and she had them naturally....OWIE!!!!!!!

[Willow]

Just got home from spending 3 hours at the hospital visiting my little neice, she is soooooo cute! She weighs 7.5 lbs & was born by c-sec last night at 11:49pm. My sister looks really well, which is amazing considering what she has been through. I can't believe how perfect she is & she isn't even 24 hours old yet! She didn't cry once!

Thank you to everyone for your support & sharing your experiences.

Beadlejay - ha ha that's okay!

nantomsuethon - I only saw my sister's baby at the hospital because the other 2 mum's on her ward had the curtains pulled round. I heard them crying though!

Laura - yes she is my first ever neice (no nephew either) & she is beautiful.

Amyjean/Gettingby/mg2204 - wow thay are big babies, I wonder why us diabetics are prone to bigger babies. Anyone know?

Little63_99 - I could see how my sister felt towards her baby & she said she does not want to go back to work & will stay at home with her daughter. She said being a mother is all she wants.

Eri's mom - Aw I am so pleased your sister is pregnant again & wish her all the best. I bet you are all thrilled!

[soremom]

Willow, why we tend to have bigger babys is because they get more sugar than normal pregnancies. But if you keep you bgs down it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

My 1st I had gestational diabetes, he was 8 lb 9 and 18 days early. I did have a c-section with him but that is because my induction would not work and they wanted him out. I had low amniotic fluid. Eight months after he was born the diabetes came back for good, T1. It took my about 9 years to decide I wanted another. Was just worried to have another and everyone (not doctor) told me I shouldn't have any more.

Well it was definitely worth it. Are family is complete. Didn't realize it wasn't till Tyler came. I was closely watched, at the ob's every other week. Didn't have to go to the endo as much as long as I was doing well. They keep a close eye on me to make sure there were no problems. One thing is nice, if I called with a concern I was told to come in now and was usually right in with the dr.

I did have him exactly 4 weeks early and he was 6 lbs 11 oz. Even though he was considered premature, he was perfectly fine. I also had low amniotic fluid with him. I was put on bed rest the week before I had him to try and build the fluid up, didn't help so they decide to deliver early, another c-section by my choice.

Good luck with trying and remember it is possible to have a child while being diabetic, natural or c-section. It is the best decision I ever made and one I will never regret, unless he doesn't go to sleep tonight.

Kim

[Lorna]

Are there any dangers associated with bgs being too low during a pregnancy? Would having a lot of hypos mean that the baby was born small, or deformed or anything?

[Cinnabon]

Congrats on that Beautiful baby girl, Willow!

I myself, have a girl, I have to admit I had a great Endo at the time. I had great control, but a lot of Hypos!!!
I had the same worry about it hurting the baby cause I would go REAL low!!! My Endo always told me the baby will NEVER know, the only thing they do feel and get real affected by it is Hyperglycemia. I went to 36 weeks and I asked all along what would happen,,,, he always told me he would enduce me and see what happens.. of course thats unatural, but I suffeed for 13 hours with contractions and NO insulin and just went upto 211. I was taken in for a 30 min C-section and my baby was 6 lbs 9 oz and 19 1/2 inches. Perfectly healthy.

Yes it all depends on what kind of control you have during your pregnancy... its CRUCIAL!!!!

[BeadieJay]

CONGRATULATIONS to Auntie Willow

http://www.annasanimaties.com/Baby050.gif

http://www.annasanimaties.com/globe1.gif

[Willow]

Soremon - thank you very much for your reply, it was very helpful. I was never really sure how I felt about kids. Whenever I was aksed if I wanted children I usually said I'm not sure, maybe in a few years time. But now I think I want them for sure after seeing my little neice & how my sister has bonded with her. I am so pleased that you feel your family is complete & wish you all the best. Hope you managed to get some sleep the other night!

Cinnabob - thanks for sharing your experience. I will definitely ensure my control is in tip top shape before we decide to have a family.

That's lovely BeadleJay, thank you!

[soremom]

Not really sure about lows. I didn't have real low ones to worry about. Would be curious though if there would be a shortage of blood flow/ air to the baby. Guess I will have to look it up. Even though I don't plan on any more, you have me very curious now.

Kim

[Eri's mom]

Thanks Willow :) I am VERY happy and excited for her(and me!!!)....it seems as though April is TOO far away!!!

Congrats to you!!!

God bless!!!

[christie]

hi,i am t1 for 21 years,i have two kids,a five year old and a 1 1/2 year old.although both of my kids were c-sections(not due to the diabetes),it is possible to try for a natural birth,you might have to be induced a little early.but also if a c-section is needed you still get the final prize whichever way it comes.a diabetic pregnancy is work,in the beginning i had alot of hypos and toward the end you get high sugar,my kids were 7'7 and 8'3 at birth so all the tests and sugar tests were worth it,if you need anymore info please pm me and i'll tell you what i can,

[Willow]

Thank you Christie for your help, I will let you know if I wany any further info, that is very kind of you.

[rdh345]

I became interested in this topic and researched it on MedlinePlus.

Despite advances, babies born to women with diabetes, especially women with poor diabetes control, are still at greater risk for birth defects. High blood glucose levels and ketones (substances that in large amounts are poisonous to the body) pass through the placenta to the baby. These increase the chance of birth defects.

For this reason, good blood glucose control before you get pregnant is very important. Most women do not know they are pregnant until the baby has been growing for two to four weeks. During the first six weeks of pregnancy, the baby's organs are forming. Your blood glucose levels during these early weeks affect the baby's growing organs. High blood glucose levels can lead to birth defects.

Because these early weeks are so important to your baby, you need to plan your pregnancy. If your blood glucose levels are not in good control, work to bring your diabetes under control before getting pregnant. It is a good idea to be in good blood glucose control three to six months before you plan to get pregnant. You'll want to keep excellent blood glucose control during pregnancy, and after as well.

How do high blood glucose levels cause problems? When extra sugar is in your blood, the baby is "fed" extra sugar, too. All this excess sugar can make the baby too big and fat. Delivery of big babies is harder on mom and baby.

Because your baby is getting extra sugar, your baby's pancreas makes extra insulin. After birth, it's hard for the baby to stop putting out extra insulin. The baby must be watched, and treated if the blood glucose level drops too low.

For some reason, jaundice happens more often in babies of women with diabetes. Jaundice is a build-up of old red blood cells that the body can't process fast enough. This problem goes away rapidly with treatment.

Your doctor will discuss the best time and method for delivery when you get close to your due date.

Your labor may start on its own, or you may decide to have labor induced or have a planned cesarean section (C-section).

No matter how you deliver your baby, your doctors will be working during labor and delivery to keep your blood glucose level under control. At the start of active labor, your insulin needs will drop. You will most likely not need any insulin during labor and for 24 to 72 hours after delivery.

To help you prepare for labor, many hospitals and other organizations offer classes (such as lamaze) to help you have a smooth delivery. They teach you what to expect during delivery, techniques to improve delivery and to relieve pain during labor, and how to care for your baby after birth. Because of the care needed for both mom and baby during and after delivery, home births are not advised for women with diabetes.

So from this, it seems that the chances of a normal birth are pretty high when you stricly monitor your pregnancy and take good care of yourself :)

Has anyone had trouble giving birth? Good luck Willow!!!

Thank you,
Randi

[Willow]

Thanks ever so much rdh345 for posting that it is really informative & very helpful to me, especially the part where it says 'it is a good idea to be in good blood glucose control three to six months before you plan to get pregnant.'

Thanks again.