They kinda told me.....

[cherii]

Well this is a continuation/update to the 'Will they tell me' thread I posted.

I had my 36 week appointment yesterday and I got the results of my u/s (only after asking) and she was measuring 2.1kg at 34 weeks (as the u/s was 2 weeks ago).

At yesterdays visit, I decided I would wait and see if they brought up the whole inducement thing or not before I said anything myself again. The OB did my blood pressure, which was up, then she listened to baby's HB and it was good and then measured me and after measuring me said I was a bit on the big side. Which has freaked me out somewhat.

She said she wanted to talk to the head OB about it and then I brought up the whole inducing thing and she said that was why she wanted to check with the head OB. So maybe she would of informed me about it?? Who knows. But they are going to induce me at 38weeks and 5 days. But now I am scared to hardly eat as I don't want the baby to get even bigger in the meantime. I know that the measurements aren't always accurate, but I'm still really concerned.

Anyways that is the update on that saga

[River]

Firstly, u/s measurements of weight are inherently inaccurate, I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

Secondly, 2.1kg @ 34 weeks doesn't make a huge baby! Babies double their weight in the last 10 weeks, so even a baby which is 2.1kg at 30 weeks is only looking to be around 4.2kg, which isn't overly huge. My last one was 4.3kg induced at 37+4 due to extemely high bp. She wasn't overly difficult to birth at all, I think I could birth a baby at least another kilo heavier with no problems .

Thirdly, you eating less won't effect the size of the baby one iota at this point. The baby will just take what it needs to from your muscle mass and cells if you don't give your body the nutrients you need to. You will find yourself malnourished and weak for the birth, increasing your risk for a c/s. You will damage yourself, the baby will be as big as it is fated to be.

With the birth of a big baby, it's not brain surgery....it's nature, just use nature's rules to birth by. Stay upright for the labour to bring bubs down the birth canal, birth with your pelvis open - squatting or on all fours, don't go near lying flat on a bed.....birth upright to use gravity, better still birth in water to cancel out gravity altogether. Don't push too early as you can bruise your cervix and have it swell, which can lead to a c/s, and don't push unless you feel the urged. Pushing because a doctor or nurse tells you to for x number of seconds might sound like a good idea, but they don't know what your body and your baby have planned for the birth - listen to yourself first, your caregivers second.

Best of luck, I hope it all goes well.

[satya]

I was watching a show on Foxtel last night where a lady got induced early (I think about 3 weeks) because they thought her baby was too big. Turned out to only be 6 pound something so they were wrong. Ultrasound does not seem particularly accurate when it comes to weight from what I can tell. Just eat healthy and you'll be fine.

[Trish]

Cherii, I have to agree with what River has said. Ultrasounds are notorius for being out. I think the best thing you can do for yourself is to get any idea out of your head that your baby is big. At this stage of your pregnancy that is totally normal

I had a 4 d scan at 30 weeks of my last pregnancy. It said bub weighed approx 1735gms. She was born weighing 3 kgs at 37 weeks.

Starving yourself or even dieting will have no effect on your babies size at all. Yes, this is the time that babies grow the most, and they are only gaining fat now, but no matter how little you eat it won't slow down bub's growth.

Enjoy the fact that you are having a healthy baby and put off thoughts of an induction merely for a "maybe that she's big"

Being induced before bub is ready is also setting yourself up for a "failed induction" leading to more intervention and a c section is likely. I am not saying that it will happen, just that it is a high possibility if bub and your body is not ready.

Read up and do some research hun. Information is your best thing to gather. It's something that can make all the differance.

Goodluck I look forward to reading your birth story

[Bathsheba]

I completely agree with what River said... and that u/s scans can be notoriously inaccurate.

[rufalina]

Cherii - If your baby is big then mine is going to be huge... He was measuring just over 2kg on Wednesday (32 +5).

My ob said that was a normal measurement and he was cool with it, and happy to let me go along as I am, with no mention of early induction c-set etc.

I am pretty relaxed about it... Hope you are able to get the birth you want.

[cherii]

Thank you for your advice ladies, but just to make things clearer to understand in my situation as to the Inducement: I have Gestational Diabetes and I am on Insulin 4 injections daily to control this as diet alone wasn't working. So it's a medical decision. I was told at my appointment prior to yesterdays that Diabetes controlled with Insulin is taken very seriously. Hence the Inducement. It's not one I am getting by choice.

Therefore when the OB was concerned at the size of my belly when she measured it yesterday, I became concerned also as I know that GD baby's have a higher risk of becoming much bigger in the last 4 weeks or more. It's not always the case. I know of many cases where the baby has been born very small to GD mum's. I am very researched on pretty much everything that I can be. I knew an inducement was on the cards months before I was told as I research everything and anything and read as much information so that I am aware of all risks/outcomes etc, but as the inducement isn't by choice, but is being put upon me, I have to go with what I am given.

When I write about the eating side of things, I worry as far as my sugar levels as I don't want any readings over (which I always get) because I am scared that she will put on the extra weight and the longer I struggle with it the more she will put on. Every first time mother worries, especially when they have the extra's that some have to contend with. Being induced puts me at slightly higher risk of C.section and the bigger she gets, the more chance of it too.

[Trish]

Cherii, I guess having all the details helps hun

So now I am not suprised that induction is mentioned, it's actually quite common with ladies who have GD.

I wish you and your baby luck huni, I hope you have a beautiful birth

[River]

Oh well then, that makes sense Cherii . I can understand what you mean about not wanting to eat when you put it in that context. I totally understand your stress, GD is a bit scary. But rest assured that 2.1kg @ 34 weeks isn't huge, you are doing well so far. Fingers crossed for normal growth until your induction date. Best of luck hun.

[Artechim]

I had GD and was on 4 shots of insulin a day. My bub was scanned at 2.6Kg at 34 weeks and was born 3.6Kg (8 pounds). He was perfectly average. I think you have been given quite tight control levels for your BSLs? I was allowed 5.5 fasting and 7.5 two hours after meals, which seems to be more than other hospitals allow. If I got close to the limit readings for a particular meal a couple of days in a row then I upped my dose by a couple of units. The doctor was happy for me to do this. I think in the end I was up to 120+ units a day and I stuck to the low GI, correct carbs servings diet religiously.

I bargained with the doctor re the induction to give bub more time to come out on his own. I ended up going in at 39+4 days, he was perfectly healthy and I will not be induced next time.

[cherii]

I had GD and was on 4 shots of insulin a day. My bub was scanned at 2.6Kg at 34 weeks and was born 3.6Kg (8 pounds). He was perfectly average. I think you have been given quite tight control levels for your BSLs? I was allowed 5.5 fasting and 7.5 two hours after meals, which seems to be more than other hospitals allow. If I got close to the limit readings for a particular meal a couple of days in a row then I upped my dose by a couple of units. The doctor was happy for me to do this. I think in the end I was up to 120+ units a day and I stuck to the low GI, correct carbs servings diet religiously.

I bargained with the doctor re the induction to give bub more time to come out on his own. I ended up going in at 39+4 days, he was perfectly healthy and I will not be induced next time.

I need to be under 5.5 before eating and then 6.5 and under after I eat...so it's a VERY tight figure to stay between. The only reason I am really worried is it seems she has grown quite significantly since my the scan. So's I am thinking if she has grown that much in 2 weeks, what will another 3 bring about??? How did your induction go??

[Artechim]

Hi Cherii
If they told you that you are on the big side based on fundal hight then please stop worrying. It is very inaccurate and depends on how baby is lying ie sideways, head in pelvis, bum sticking out. Try not to let that worry you. From the scan it sounds like your baby is somewhere around the 50th percentile, I don't think she will get massive in the last month.

I really wouldn't worry if you go a bit over 6.5 for your reading, for non GD mums it is completely normal to have BSL's up to 8 after a meal with no problems for the baby, to me 6.5 seems excessively tight.

As for my induction, I guess it did the job and got the baby out but it wasn't what I had planned (labour stalled, fetal distress, epidural) and next time I will not be induced because I believe that there is no benefit to it if BSL's are controlled.

ETA, hope that didn't sound too cold. I know how much your mind is spinning at the moment and how confusing it is to decide what is best for you and bub. Another thing to keep in mind is that GD hasn't been studied properly and most data is taken from Type 1 diabetic pregnancies. The problem with that is that Type 1's have a slightly poorer outcome because the changes in pregnancy (especially 1st trimester) are a lot harder to control for them.

Good luck with everything

[cherii]

No that didn't sound too cold Artechim. I know what you mean. I think those figures for keeping your levels between are way too strict. That is probably half the reason I have to control it with Insulin in the first place. I can only hope that everything will come out fine in the end. I just can't afford to have a C.section as I have no one to help me out with the baby whilst I heal.

[becky]

I agree with what the other ladies have said. My first baby was 9lbs and I had a crappy labour (strike that - very crappy!) Anyway, I had read somewhere that babies just tend to get bigger the more you have. Every OB appointment I had after about 30 weeks, they kept telling me, "Woahhh.... this is another big baby, or yes it is definately bigger than normal" Well, just like you , I was absaloutely freaked out thinking, Oh god, I cant possibly do a baby bigger than 9lbs!
Anyway, my daughter was born a perfectly healthy 7lbs7. And only 49cm. She was perfect. So do not always go with what the OB tells you. They are only guessing after all - you wont know for sure until your little one is born!
Good luck with everything!

[~Belinda~]

Cherii, just in my own experience, I was induced and I had no problems with the induction and had a 5 hour labour. It was our first.

I agree with Becky, Ob's just guess!

[maz]

Cherii - I was told I had GD with Vyolett. The GD nurse wanted me to take inslulin but I didnt - I refused as I had read and heard tht you have a higher risk of still birth with having insulin..not saying that is what you should do..it was MY choice and I followed my instinct.. I was told Vyolett would be a HUGE baby and had an emergency c/s at 37 weeks as I went into early labour.....she weighed a whole 7p 1 oz...so much for my huge baby.
What is your gutt telling you? What are you feeling?
As for the induction...hon your baby will come out when she is ready, wait an see at the 38 week mark.
good luck