[Gemma0226]

I'm a type I diabetic of 20 years. I'm 26 weeks pregnant with my second child; due January 8. So far in this pregnancy all is going very well.

My diabetes was not under as good control with my first, who was born at 34 weeks by Cesarean. I have been told by numerous OBs that it is debatable that a Cesarean was necessary. I was having some contractions, but neither I nor the baby were in ANY sort of danger. Basically, my OB was freaked out and wanted the situation out of her hands. By delivering the baby, she could relieve me from my swelling and contractions, and put the baby's care in the hands of the NICU staff.

I'm scared of having a repeat of birth #1.

My OB says he's not entirely opposed to a VBAC, but I have a gut feeling he's just trying to appease me. He said, "If you're 36 weeks, having contractions, dialated to 8, I'll let you VBAC." Hmm, somehow I highly doubt he would even let me dialate to 8.

He also said he wants to get a c-section on the books just in case we end up going that route.

I'm really skeptical of obstetrics in the US. If I had it my way, I'd have a home birth, but I am not a candidate for that at this time in my life. And there is no midwife in the area who will take me under her care.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for me?

I am also looking for advice regarding how to handle the baby's care after birth. Regardless of how well the birth goes, our baby will be whisked off to the NICU after birth for monitoring. That is policy at this hospital since only the NICU nurses are trained to do that monitoring. I'm having a really hard time dealing with that idea. Advice?

[sjacob]

How long has it been since your 1st C-Section? My doc told me to wait 3 years after my child was born to try to get pregnant again. I have been type 1 for 22 years, but under good control. Why will they take your baby to NICU after birth? What if there are no other complications, will they take it no matter what? That seems strange to me, hopefully it will only be for a few hours. I hate when they take my babies, I feel so out of control. My first went to NICU after birth just for about 18 hrs - too long - but they brought him in my room. I had to really press them and drive them crazy for them to even let me see him. My secnd child was in NICU for about 4 days, I stayed in there with her a lot, but it was still awful. I am hoping that I will be able to get a little further along with this pregnancy, so they will be less likely to take my baby from me.
I have had 3 c-sections - the 3rd one was when I lost a baby at about 20 weeks (unknown what happened to him), so there is no way I could try for a VBAC. Doctors have seemed to change their opinions about VBAC procedures, it seems a little more common now then 5 years ago. If you really want to try one, keep talking to your doctor. Try to stay in control of what happens, just don't take any unneccesary risks (of course). I would just do your own research and then go the OB with it, be well informed. Don't let them take the baby too early. My OB gets scared when my sugar is 200...so I have to be strong with her.

[Gemma0226]

Stacy, thanks for your reply! I feel a little less "lost at sea" than before.

At this hospital, the nurses aren't dually trained. The baby nurses handle the babies and the mommy nurses handle the mommies. So, for baby's blood sugar monitoring, he/she will have to go to the NICU. It's just the way they do things.

This is especially hard because I've been reading about how the best way to get baby's sugars up is to nurse right away. We're really anti-formula because of the ingredients in them and the health effects they cause, so it's doubly hard.

Our first, who will be three in January, was in the NICU for two weeks. At that hospital (different than the one where we live now) it was policy there for all babies to be in the NICU until they hit the 36 week mark. I don't think she would have been released much sooner than that, though. We waited 4 days to hold her and I waited 5 to breastfeed. It was really hard.

~ Mary

[notti426]

Oh my goodness, Mary! If I were you, I'd look for another hospital! That is absolutly ridicolous that the baby needs to go to NICU to check blood sugars and this is coming from a nurse who works labor and delivery! Now, in my hospital if the babies are below 35 weeks, that is an automatic NICU admission. But besides that only if the baby is having difficulty adjusting to outside life will they be taken there!

Do you see a maternal fetal medicine doc or one that specializes in high risk OB? You need to see one! ANd being that you are 26 weeks now, you may not want to switch to another doc, but maybe look into other ones in your area. Travel a little farther if you have to to be comfortable! What you must remember is that you, as the patient, always have to right to say no to anything! Now a good doc will always tell you what they think you should do and WHY they think you should do that. But if you do not agree with what they are suggesting, then you should get another opinion. Do your reading. Make sure you know what they are talking about! Good luck!

[Gemma0226]

The problem is that all THREE of the hospitals in my city have this policy of putting babies of diabetic moms in the NICU (at least for a few hours).

I looked into hospitals further away, but there are issues with those, too, and the OBs in my area do not have priviledges at those hospitals.

The best hospital is about 45 mintues away, but they are not equipped to deliver before 35 weeks. At this point, I do not think I will go early, but you never know. However, I am not established with the OB with whom we interviewed about that hospital.

The thing that absolutely stinks the most is that we searched all over our city and even into the closest parts of the nearest metropolis for an OB who would be comfortable with the possibility of a VBAC in my situation. I "accidentally" found out at my last OB appointment (I met with the nurse practitioner b/c my OB was in an emergency c-section) that my OB is planning on me having a scheduled repeat C-section. Needless to say, my husband and I are going to have a little chat with him at my next appointment. We'll be nice, but believe me, if he's not on the same page with us (ie wiling to let me VBAC if there are no complications), I'm absolutely not beyond finding another OB.

I'm about ready to just give birth in a dark hole somewhere. ...No, not really, but I am at the end of my rope. I have no idea what to do. I'm sick of obstetrics in this country, that's for sure.

[Gemma0226]

Oh, yes, I have seen a perinatologist multiple times. They did a number of routine tests, including a fetal echo and an EKG on me. All is well!