First off, there are many women who have both gestational diabetes and a delivery that winds up being normal. But this doesn’t always happen.  When things are a bit panicky at the hospital, be sure everyone you bump into knows you have gestational diabetes. Delivery methods may rest on that knowledge.  Each woman is different. But you should at least expect that with gestational diabetes, delivery by Cesarean or chemically induced labor may be recommended.
Communication Key
Both gestational diabetes and delivery of a baby can be scary. Put together, they can rattle anyone’s nerves. But you need to keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your doctor or obstetrician. You also need to go through any testing for gestational diabetes which usually happens at your 24th to 28th week. This helps everyone be prepared. You also need to let your doctor know if you think your baby’s weight has suddenly decreased.
And, during labor, delivery and recovery time, your blood sugar levels will be monitored. Each woman recovers from gestational diabetes and delivery at different speeds. The baby’s heart rate (inside of you and outside of you) will also be closely monitored. Your baby will also be checked for normal blood sugar levels, as well as other things like calcium.
Factors To Consider
If your doctor or obstetrician makes the decision to induce an early labor, this isn’t just for convenience. There are many factors taken into consideration for your best interests and the baby’s best interests. One of these factors is how steady your blood sugar is during your pregnancy. Another factor is how big your baby is. A really big baby, even born a couple of weeks early, isn’t at much risk if the mother’s health is on the line.
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You need to get an ultrasound to determine just how big the fetus is. You may need to take insulin injections if the baby is huge. You also need to get amniotic fluid testing for a variety of other possible conditions. Basically, during your pregnancy, expect going to one medical test after another for a long time.
But, even though you probably feel like a cog in the maternity machine, your case will still be treated as unique and not automatically shoved into a compartment treatment. So, if you are advised to get an induced or C-section, you can know that there is a very good reason for the suggestion.
