Giving birth

Willow · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 10:50 AM

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 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 10:54 AM

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 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 11:11 AM

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 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 11:13 AM

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

nantomsuethom · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 11:14 AM

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 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 12:52 PM

Quote:

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 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 02:26 PM

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 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 03:46 PM

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 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 11:50 PM

... 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!

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 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 12:11 AM

... 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 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 06:07 AM

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 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 01:10 PM

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 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 01:36 PM

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 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 06:21 PM

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 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 02:42 AM

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?