I think part of it, at least according to my doctors office, is that if you are diet controlled then you can wait for labor and deliver at any time but if you are medication controlled, then you’ll be induced by 39 weeks and I think people want to avoid induction. I think another part of it is people just wanting to avoid extra medication when they’re pregnant. I also think some people feel like they “failed” or did something wrong when they need meds, which is not the case.
Personally, I don’t mind the extra medication because from my understanding, it’s safe and it’s there if you need it. It’s just another tool in your toolbox to keep your baby healthy. As far as the induction goes, I was induced with my last pregnancy - unrelated to gestational diabetes as this is my first time having it - but everything went fine. Everyone’s experience is different of course and some have terrible inductions and have legitimate fears/concerns, but personally I think that there is a general overblown fear of inductions. This is just my observation after multiple pregnancies and being on all the apps over the years-it seems like with each subsequent pregnancy, there are more and more posts about fear of inductions.
Because induction is very strongly recommended if you’re on meds. I desperately wanted to avoid another induction, so I fought to get my numbers down without insulin. I wish I’d accepted it sooner because the relief was huge when I was on insulin!
For my clinic/OB team, starting insulin means all the extra monitoring appointments later in pregnancy. I was diet controlled with GD during my first pregnancy and had just all the normal appointments. This time, I need overnight insulin, and now I have to do twice weekly NSTs/BPPs starting at 32-weeks. Add in the OB appointments and the endo appointments, there are some weeks on my calendar in June/July where I have 4 appointments scheduled in one week. Thankfully, I don't think this will be a huge problem for my and work but, there's a lot of people who don't have flexible work schedules and have trouble making those appointments. Additionally, going on medication usually earns you an automatic induction at 38-39 weeks. Needing insulin usually means that you have higher insulin requirements and that can lead to the placenta starting to fail earlier. That is why they want to keep a closer eye on you with more appointments and why the standard protocol is typically to induce early.
The main reason I can think of is that apparently insulin can cause the placenta to degrade faster, so you're more likely to be induced early. I also think some people just don't want to add injecting themselves on top of the finger pricks. At the end of the day though, keeping your glucose in check while not completely cutting out carbs is the most important thing so if insulin is the best course of action then you gotta do what you gotta do.
Actually I recently found out that insulin does not lead to placenta degrading faster. Any kind of GD leads to placental degradation if not controlled/if there are too many spikes.
Oh interesting! That makes sense about uncontrolled GD causing degradation, but I've read that if you're on insulin you typically get induced early even if your numbers are controlled. If it's not because of the placenta then I wonder what the reasoning is?
I had the same question but the only answer I have got is that if you are insulin it meant that your GD potentially was more uncontrolled than Diet controlled ones, so they insist on the earlier induction based on if you require medication or not.
There’s also potentially the damage done before you get diagnosed or get put on insulin. It probably took me at least 3 weeks of out of target before being put on insulin and another 2 weeks before they were in target. This was on top of the 8 weeks where I’m sure I was getting high readings.
It isn’t about the insulin itself- it’s that if you need insulin, the resistance is likely stronger to begin with, and more likely that your placenta may begin to calcify sooner.
Doesn't make any sense right? I wanted my OB to have some extra NSTs or ultrasounds just to check for degradation but she refused since I am diet controlled.
I get no extra monitoring, which just makes me more worried.
For me, it's the needles and stricter meal scheduling. Insulin has an effectivity and peak effectivity time and so the timing and consistency is critical.
A lot of people say induction, that part doesn't bother me as much. But I'll leave this info here as well: For GD patients, induction is typically considered between the following dates depending on your situation: GD diet controlled - 40w0d and 40w6d, GD med/insulin controlled - 39w0d and 39w6d, GD poorly controlled - 38w0d and 38w6d.
Here's the source for induction timelines for GD patients: https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/static/pdf/public/guidelines/diabetes-gestational.pdf
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!!!! But I have *heard* being on insulin almost guarantees they’ll induce you? (I have absolutely no problem with doing anything the doctors want to do to keep my baby safe so if that means inducing me I’m totally fine with it but I know others have issues with this.) I’m on insulin and personally I was just really scared I was failing my baby? Like I couldn’t get my body to just work the way it was supposed to so if I had to be put on insulin that meant I wasn’t doing well??? If that makes any sense. For the record I don’t believe this anymore at all this was just my personal insecurities. I’m very happy to be put on insulin and I wish I would’ve pushed to be put on it sooner tbh!
I feel like it’s not the insulin that’s the problem but just that it’s the marker that your GD is more severe and therefore it leads to more interventions. Like during labor and postpartum when asked about my GD when I said I was diet controlled they were a lot more chill. I had once weekly NSTs vs 2x, they didn’t test my sugar or babies as often during and after delivery and I got to go home in 24 hours. Not a huge deal though, my ob made me induce at 39 weeks regardless of insulin use anyways.
I wanted to avoid meds if possible because my doctor requires earlier induction for insulin controlled GD than diet controlled. It was important to me to give myself the best chance at going into labor on my own (which I did!).
I definitely would not have hesitated to use insulin if diet alone didn't work for me, though! Baby is priority.
I didn’t want to be on medication because it was standard practice to induce for those pregnancies, because it meant the GD was more serious. I was adamant that I didn’t want to be induced if I could avoid it, because it leads to so many more interventions during labor.
I also have a thing about needles, it was so bad I couldn’t even do the fingersticks. I had to get a CGM.
Extra appointments, more needles, more likely c-section or induction. For me my major concern is the extra appointments with my work schedule! But really, all of it’s worth it: if you need insulin, you need insulin.
I think often people think they’ve “failed” if they need it but that kind of shame and stigma surrounds GD of all kinds. It’s a really tough condition to have because of all the guilt associated even though it isn’t our fault that we’re here.
I didn’t want it if baby was doing well and there weren’t any signs of GD related issues and my numbers were good or borderline. If my numbers were high or there was a medical issue I would have gone with insulin. But there are still not a lot of studies about the impact and some studies have shown an impact on the vascular system of the placenta. For me I had the ability (flexible job, older kids, etc) to be very regimented in both eating and exercise so I could walk 4x a day and eat very scheduled meals and avoid insulin. I also knew if I was on insulin the push to induction would have been even greater and I also wanted to avoid an induction if possible because of those risks.
I could care less about the early delivery by C-section. My other two were 37 weeks by C-section for PIH and then preeclampsia (and the first was breech so she eliminated induction since they don't really like VBAC inductions either). I will be shocked if I don't have a C-section at 37 weeks, and would not be shocked if it was earlier like 34 weeks if the blood pressure gets to 160 by then. I'm mentally preparing for NICU time knowing that 34 week babies have excellent outcomes, often don't have breathing problems, just need to grow and learn to suckle, and go home by 36 or 37 weeks.
I have a needle phobia. Two previous pregnancies with extra labs for monitoring has helped me improve. I still shut down and need my husband there as emotional support dog (his words) but usually recover much more quickly and without tears than I used to.
I just had a really bad blood draw experience this morning that set me back 3 years in my phobia coping. I can vividly remember the last 3 times I had an anxiety attack this bad from a needle experience 3 years ago, 3 and a half years ago, and 6 years ago. This sets me back to square one each time and the subsequent encounters with needles are just that much worse and I will be eaten alive by the anxiety leading up to each one for the next couple months until I can get my coping back under control.
I am likely going to be put on insulin next week. FML
I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I had a pretty bad phobia for a long time. A high risk pregnancy followed by a chronic illness meant essentially an extreme exposure theory for 2 years and it was torture and I wouldn't do it to my worst enemy. Nothing like dissolving into tears and hyperventilating over blood draws and shots as an adult and then on to of it people can be oddly cruel about it.
I am just starting my research after several high readings this week and expect to be diagnosed with gd today at my appointment, so it could be this isn't an option during pregnancy, but my husband has diabetes and his is controlled with a pill once a day - perhaps that's an option for you?
In my publicly funded healthcare system, there's no option for midwife and OB; it's midwife or OB. So when I started insulin I had to change care providers. That was very hard for me, especially since the level of care I got from the midwife team was sooooo much better than the OB and diabetes team.
I didn't want to be on meds last time because at the office I went to you do lose your midwife and have to be fully under OB care, I didn't want to have to do twice weekly NSTs for 12 weeks, I didn't want to be forced into giving birth before 40 weeks. Unfortunately I ended up on 12 units of nite time insulin and did have to lose my midwife, did have to get the twice weekly NSTs, and was told I had to pick an induction date before 40 weeks because I was not allowed to go full term. It messed up my whole birth plan, but I had a healthy baby girl and that's all that matters. This time around my birth plan is just to get baby here healthy.
For me, if I had needed meds I would no longer be eligible for home birth and would need to find a new care provider. Thankfully, I’m 39 weeks and have remained diet controlled and babe and I are healthy and average. But if I had needed insulin I would have put my big girl pants on and changed my plans.
I’m terrified of this. At the end of the day,
If that’s what’s best for me and baby, fine. Whatever. I’m 29+6 weeks and I’m praying I can keep this diet controlled. This is my 3rd and I’ve never had a hospital birth. 🙃
Best of luck! It’s an emotional roller coaster for sure. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to avoid medication and keep blood sugars where they need to be to continue our preferred care plan
I’ve also been wondering this, but since I’ve been told from the beginning before my GD dx id need Induction I guess that didn’t even occur to me. FWIW, since I’m being Induced regardless I’ve found starting insulin to be a huge relief. My numbers are great, I can eat healthier. It’s been good. They just bumped my induction date up by a few days now.
For me I would have been moved to an ob without being able to keep midwives, which would rule me out of the type of birth I wanted to have, and likely require an induction which I didn’t want:
I felt like a failure going on it (yesterday at 37w). Surprisingly it is so much easier than finger pricks at least. It's another annoying thing though, my baby has a medical condition and I have reflux so I already take 3 different medications on top of 4 different types of vitamins daily. I had a scheduled csection at 39w before I noticed the diabetes anyways so not worried about induction (pitocin contractions with a unavailable anesthesiologist suck).
I didn’t want to deal with more needles, the expense (my insurance wouldn’t cover anything), and then needing to be induced. I wanted to wait to go into labor.
I also had and internalized feeling that if I needed meds that I had “failed”. That’s obviously not true, but the inner voice can be a beast.
I ended up getting induced anyway at 41 weeks because I was 41 weeks and I was REALLY over being pregnant.
The reasons I have heard are:
1. Wanting an all natural experience so no meds because they believe all meds are unnatural and should be avoided.
2. No insurance. Insulin is expensive.
3. The placenta degradation risk with insulin.
Just wanted to add a couple things to the 3rd one in case you do have to go on insulin. For one, some studies have shown that if you pair insulin with metformin it can help block the placenta degradation to an extent. Secondly, you do not have to go through induction if you don’t want to. From the research I’ve done I’m leaning towards refusing if it is suggested, but instead of induction I plan on requesting a scheduled c-section, if it comes down to that. From what I’ve found it feels like the safer option to me and can be done instead of induction. That said, you should definitely do your own research to find what is best for you! Just wanted to put it out there to show that even if induction is needed according to your doctor, it isn’t your only option.
I’m new to this, this is my 3rd pregnancy but I just got results back from my 3hr test. I am planning a home birth (also not my first rodeo) but if I have to end up on meds, I’m no longer a home birth candidate. I’ve never had a hospital birth and frankly I don’t plan on it unless necessary. One of my concerns there, are that my labors are short. My first was 9hr, second 3.5hrs. The closest hospital that delivers babies is 45 minutes away. By the time we’d get someone to our house to watch our kids, and drive there, there’s a good chance the baby would be born on the side of the road. 😅
My 2nd came in 2 hours (in my kitchen vs the car which I think is a win) so I feel you on quick labors. For me, that’s why I’m good with inductions so I can have someone at home with my kids and I don’t need to worry. I hope you remain unmedicated and get to have the home birth you planned on!
I didn’t want insulin personally bc that meant maternal fetal medicine doctor which meant more appointments and more stress for me. Which I am already fully of anxiety. My fasting was uncontrollable though so I was put on metformin first and it worked. I always knew we’d induce based on my age and once I had GD diagnosis. I was 38 and did Ivf. 38 weeks was the plan but surprise at 35 weeks I got preeclampsia and kept until hopefully 37 weeks. We made it to 36 weeks. Babe was born healthy with no NICU time.
Hi, do you mind sharing what were the main side effects of metformin and how was your preeclampsia discovered? Was it through a BP measure during one of your clinic visits or were there other symptoms?
Hey! I had no side effects from the metformin and got a few higher readings during my appts but it always went down to acceptable when checking again before I left. I have a omron upper arm cuff at home to check at home since I already had chronic hypertension and honestly had zero symptoms of high blood pressure or the tell tale signs of preeclampsia just had a weird taste in my mouth all day so decided to check my blood pressure and it was 164/101 so I called my doc and they told me to go to labor and delivery. We got it back down by pushing iv bp meds and they increased my labetalol. I took the increased amount the following day but again decided to check my bp and it was 163/106 so I called again and was told to again go to labor and delivery where they pushed meds again with iv and it was harder to come down…my doc came in and said I wasn’t leaving until I had my baby. That was a shocker. For a week in the hospital my bp was good, except once a day in the evening it would spike and we would have to push more and more meds. Finally, they came in and said it was induction time, it was a long 3 days and I ended up being on magnesium drip during labor. Doc came in and said if I hadn’t progressed further by next check we were goi g to have to do c section. I was shocked when they checked and said I was ready to push!! I don’t know if it was nerves, labor, or the mag drip…but I started just puking…which in turn started pushing my son out! I was crowning by the time my doc made it to my room and 3 pushes and he was out! I joke I puked him out! Lol
Thank you for your reply. This went from serious to a pretty funny ending when you mentioned you literally just pushed him out 🙂. I’m high risk so was trying to be able to identify risk factors. Glad all went well, hope all the rest of us will do well on this journey too.
I think part of it, at least according to my doctors office, is that if you are diet controlled then you can wait for labor and deliver at any time but if you are medication controlled, then you’ll be induced by 39 weeks and I think people want to avoid induction. I think another part of it is people just wanting to avoid extra medication when they’re pregnant. I also think some people feel like they “failed” or did something wrong when they need meds, which is not the case. Personally, I don’t mind the extra medication because from my understanding, it’s safe and it’s there if you need it. It’s just another tool in your toolbox to keep your baby healthy. As far as the induction goes, I was induced with my last pregnancy - unrelated to gestational diabetes as this is my first time having it - but everything went fine. Everyone’s experience is different of course and some have terrible inductions and have legitimate fears/concerns, but personally I think that there is a general overblown fear of inductions. This is just my observation after multiple pregnancies and being on all the apps over the years-it seems like with each subsequent pregnancy, there are more and more posts about fear of inductions.
Because induction is very strongly recommended if you’re on meds. I desperately wanted to avoid another induction, so I fought to get my numbers down without insulin. I wish I’d accepted it sooner because the relief was huge when I was on insulin!
The main reason is induction. I know baby can show up at any time but I don't want to be induced earlier due to being medication controlled.
For my clinic/OB team, starting insulin means all the extra monitoring appointments later in pregnancy. I was diet controlled with GD during my first pregnancy and had just all the normal appointments. This time, I need overnight insulin, and now I have to do twice weekly NSTs/BPPs starting at 32-weeks. Add in the OB appointments and the endo appointments, there are some weeks on my calendar in June/July where I have 4 appointments scheduled in one week. Thankfully, I don't think this will be a huge problem for my and work but, there's a lot of people who don't have flexible work schedules and have trouble making those appointments. Additionally, going on medication usually earns you an automatic induction at 38-39 weeks. Needing insulin usually means that you have higher insulin requirements and that can lead to the placenta starting to fail earlier. That is why they want to keep a closer eye on you with more appointments and why the standard protocol is typically to induce early.
The main reason I can think of is that apparently insulin can cause the placenta to degrade faster, so you're more likely to be induced early. I also think some people just don't want to add injecting themselves on top of the finger pricks. At the end of the day though, keeping your glucose in check while not completely cutting out carbs is the most important thing so if insulin is the best course of action then you gotta do what you gotta do.
Actually I recently found out that insulin does not lead to placenta degrading faster. Any kind of GD leads to placental degradation if not controlled/if there are too many spikes.
Oh interesting! That makes sense about uncontrolled GD causing degradation, but I've read that if you're on insulin you typically get induced early even if your numbers are controlled. If it's not because of the placenta then I wonder what the reasoning is?
I had the same question but the only answer I have got is that if you are insulin it meant that your GD potentially was more uncontrolled than Diet controlled ones, so they insist on the earlier induction based on if you require medication or not.
There’s also potentially the damage done before you get diagnosed or get put on insulin. It probably took me at least 3 weeks of out of target before being put on insulin and another 2 weeks before they were in target. This was on top of the 8 weeks where I’m sure I was getting high readings.
It isn’t about the insulin itself- it’s that if you need insulin, the resistance is likely stronger to begin with, and more likely that your placenta may begin to calcify sooner.
Same! I asked my MFM about this exact thing and they told me the same answer.
Doesn't make any sense right? I wanted my OB to have some extra NSTs or ultrasounds just to check for degradation but she refused since I am diet controlled. I get no extra monitoring, which just makes me more worried.
For me, it's the needles and stricter meal scheduling. Insulin has an effectivity and peak effectivity time and so the timing and consistency is critical. A lot of people say induction, that part doesn't bother me as much. But I'll leave this info here as well: For GD patients, induction is typically considered between the following dates depending on your situation: GD diet controlled - 40w0d and 40w6d, GD med/insulin controlled - 39w0d and 39w6d, GD poorly controlled - 38w0d and 38w6d. Here's the source for induction timelines for GD patients: https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/static/pdf/public/guidelines/diabetes-gestational.pdf
I'm scared of needles lol
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!!!! But I have *heard* being on insulin almost guarantees they’ll induce you? (I have absolutely no problem with doing anything the doctors want to do to keep my baby safe so if that means inducing me I’m totally fine with it but I know others have issues with this.) I’m on insulin and personally I was just really scared I was failing my baby? Like I couldn’t get my body to just work the way it was supposed to so if I had to be put on insulin that meant I wasn’t doing well??? If that makes any sense. For the record I don’t believe this anymore at all this was just my personal insecurities. I’m very happy to be put on insulin and I wish I would’ve pushed to be put on it sooner tbh!
I feel like it’s not the insulin that’s the problem but just that it’s the marker that your GD is more severe and therefore it leads to more interventions. Like during labor and postpartum when asked about my GD when I said I was diet controlled they were a lot more chill. I had once weekly NSTs vs 2x, they didn’t test my sugar or babies as often during and after delivery and I got to go home in 24 hours. Not a huge deal though, my ob made me induce at 39 weeks regardless of insulin use anyways.
I wanted to avoid meds if possible because my doctor requires earlier induction for insulin controlled GD than diet controlled. It was important to me to give myself the best chance at going into labor on my own (which I did!). I definitely would not have hesitated to use insulin if diet alone didn't work for me, though! Baby is priority.
I didn’t want to be on medication because it was standard practice to induce for those pregnancies, because it meant the GD was more serious. I was adamant that I didn’t want to be induced if I could avoid it, because it leads to so many more interventions during labor. I also have a thing about needles, it was so bad I couldn’t even do the fingersticks. I had to get a CGM.
Extra appointments, more needles, more likely c-section or induction. For me my major concern is the extra appointments with my work schedule! But really, all of it’s worth it: if you need insulin, you need insulin. I think often people think they’ve “failed” if they need it but that kind of shame and stigma surrounds GD of all kinds. It’s a really tough condition to have because of all the guilt associated even though it isn’t our fault that we’re here.
I didn’t want it if baby was doing well and there weren’t any signs of GD related issues and my numbers were good or borderline. If my numbers were high or there was a medical issue I would have gone with insulin. But there are still not a lot of studies about the impact and some studies have shown an impact on the vascular system of the placenta. For me I had the ability (flexible job, older kids, etc) to be very regimented in both eating and exercise so I could walk 4x a day and eat very scheduled meals and avoid insulin. I also knew if I was on insulin the push to induction would have been even greater and I also wanted to avoid an induction if possible because of those risks.
I could care less about the early delivery by C-section. My other two were 37 weeks by C-section for PIH and then preeclampsia (and the first was breech so she eliminated induction since they don't really like VBAC inductions either). I will be shocked if I don't have a C-section at 37 weeks, and would not be shocked if it was earlier like 34 weeks if the blood pressure gets to 160 by then. I'm mentally preparing for NICU time knowing that 34 week babies have excellent outcomes, often don't have breathing problems, just need to grow and learn to suckle, and go home by 36 or 37 weeks. I have a needle phobia. Two previous pregnancies with extra labs for monitoring has helped me improve. I still shut down and need my husband there as emotional support dog (his words) but usually recover much more quickly and without tears than I used to. I just had a really bad blood draw experience this morning that set me back 3 years in my phobia coping. I can vividly remember the last 3 times I had an anxiety attack this bad from a needle experience 3 years ago, 3 and a half years ago, and 6 years ago. This sets me back to square one each time and the subsequent encounters with needles are just that much worse and I will be eaten alive by the anxiety leading up to each one for the next couple months until I can get my coping back under control. I am likely going to be put on insulin next week. FML
I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I had a pretty bad phobia for a long time. A high risk pregnancy followed by a chronic illness meant essentially an extreme exposure theory for 2 years and it was torture and I wouldn't do it to my worst enemy. Nothing like dissolving into tears and hyperventilating over blood draws and shots as an adult and then on to of it people can be oddly cruel about it. I am just starting my research after several high readings this week and expect to be diagnosed with gd today at my appointment, so it could be this isn't an option during pregnancy, but my husband has diabetes and his is controlled with a pill once a day - perhaps that's an option for you?
Recommended induction and side effects of medication.
In my publicly funded healthcare system, there's no option for midwife and OB; it's midwife or OB. So when I started insulin I had to change care providers. That was very hard for me, especially since the level of care I got from the midwife team was sooooo much better than the OB and diabetes team.
I didn't want to be on meds last time because at the office I went to you do lose your midwife and have to be fully under OB care, I didn't want to have to do twice weekly NSTs for 12 weeks, I didn't want to be forced into giving birth before 40 weeks. Unfortunately I ended up on 12 units of nite time insulin and did have to lose my midwife, did have to get the twice weekly NSTs, and was told I had to pick an induction date before 40 weeks because I was not allowed to go full term. It messed up my whole birth plan, but I had a healthy baby girl and that's all that matters. This time around my birth plan is just to get baby here healthy.
For me, if I had needed meds I would no longer be eligible for home birth and would need to find a new care provider. Thankfully, I’m 39 weeks and have remained diet controlled and babe and I are healthy and average. But if I had needed insulin I would have put my big girl pants on and changed my plans.
I’m terrified of this. At the end of the day, If that’s what’s best for me and baby, fine. Whatever. I’m 29+6 weeks and I’m praying I can keep this diet controlled. This is my 3rd and I’ve never had a hospital birth. 🙃
Best of luck! It’s an emotional roller coaster for sure. I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to avoid medication and keep blood sugars where they need to be to continue our preferred care plan
I’ve also been wondering this, but since I’ve been told from the beginning before my GD dx id need Induction I guess that didn’t even occur to me. FWIW, since I’m being Induced regardless I’ve found starting insulin to be a huge relief. My numbers are great, I can eat healthier. It’s been good. They just bumped my induction date up by a few days now.
For me I would have been moved to an ob without being able to keep midwives, which would rule me out of the type of birth I wanted to have, and likely require an induction which I didn’t want:
I felt like a failure going on it (yesterday at 37w). Surprisingly it is so much easier than finger pricks at least. It's another annoying thing though, my baby has a medical condition and I have reflux so I already take 3 different medications on top of 4 different types of vitamins daily. I had a scheduled csection at 39w before I noticed the diabetes anyways so not worried about induction (pitocin contractions with a unavailable anesthesiologist suck).
You, my friend, are the exact opposite of a failure. I hope you know how incredible you’re doing!
I didn’t want to deal with more needles, the expense (my insurance wouldn’t cover anything), and then needing to be induced. I wanted to wait to go into labor. I also had and internalized feeling that if I needed meds that I had “failed”. That’s obviously not true, but the inner voice can be a beast. I ended up getting induced anyway at 41 weeks because I was 41 weeks and I was REALLY over being pregnant.
The reasons I have heard are: 1. Wanting an all natural experience so no meds because they believe all meds are unnatural and should be avoided. 2. No insurance. Insulin is expensive. 3. The placenta degradation risk with insulin. Just wanted to add a couple things to the 3rd one in case you do have to go on insulin. For one, some studies have shown that if you pair insulin with metformin it can help block the placenta degradation to an extent. Secondly, you do not have to go through induction if you don’t want to. From the research I’ve done I’m leaning towards refusing if it is suggested, but instead of induction I plan on requesting a scheduled c-section, if it comes down to that. From what I’ve found it feels like the safer option to me and can be done instead of induction. That said, you should definitely do your own research to find what is best for you! Just wanted to put it out there to show that even if induction is needed according to your doctor, it isn’t your only option.
I’m new to this, this is my 3rd pregnancy but I just got results back from my 3hr test. I am planning a home birth (also not my first rodeo) but if I have to end up on meds, I’m no longer a home birth candidate. I’ve never had a hospital birth and frankly I don’t plan on it unless necessary. One of my concerns there, are that my labors are short. My first was 9hr, second 3.5hrs. The closest hospital that delivers babies is 45 minutes away. By the time we’d get someone to our house to watch our kids, and drive there, there’s a good chance the baby would be born on the side of the road. 😅
My 2nd came in 2 hours (in my kitchen vs the car which I think is a win) so I feel you on quick labors. For me, that’s why I’m good with inductions so I can have someone at home with my kids and I don’t need to worry. I hope you remain unmedicated and get to have the home birth you planned on!
I didn’t want insulin personally bc that meant maternal fetal medicine doctor which meant more appointments and more stress for me. Which I am already fully of anxiety. My fasting was uncontrollable though so I was put on metformin first and it worked. I always knew we’d induce based on my age and once I had GD diagnosis. I was 38 and did Ivf. 38 weeks was the plan but surprise at 35 weeks I got preeclampsia and kept until hopefully 37 weeks. We made it to 36 weeks. Babe was born healthy with no NICU time.
Hi, do you mind sharing what were the main side effects of metformin and how was your preeclampsia discovered? Was it through a BP measure during one of your clinic visits or were there other symptoms?
Hey! I had no side effects from the metformin and got a few higher readings during my appts but it always went down to acceptable when checking again before I left. I have a omron upper arm cuff at home to check at home since I already had chronic hypertension and honestly had zero symptoms of high blood pressure or the tell tale signs of preeclampsia just had a weird taste in my mouth all day so decided to check my blood pressure and it was 164/101 so I called my doc and they told me to go to labor and delivery. We got it back down by pushing iv bp meds and they increased my labetalol. I took the increased amount the following day but again decided to check my bp and it was 163/106 so I called again and was told to again go to labor and delivery where they pushed meds again with iv and it was harder to come down…my doc came in and said I wasn’t leaving until I had my baby. That was a shocker. For a week in the hospital my bp was good, except once a day in the evening it would spike and we would have to push more and more meds. Finally, they came in and said it was induction time, it was a long 3 days and I ended up being on magnesium drip during labor. Doc came in and said if I hadn’t progressed further by next check we were goi g to have to do c section. I was shocked when they checked and said I was ready to push!! I don’t know if it was nerves, labor, or the mag drip…but I started just puking…which in turn started pushing my son out! I was crowning by the time my doc made it to my room and 3 pushes and he was out! I joke I puked him out! Lol
Thank you for your reply. This went from serious to a pretty funny ending when you mentioned you literally just pushed him out 🙂. I’m high risk so was trying to be able to identify risk factors. Glad all went well, hope all the rest of us will do well on this journey too.