I am curious to find out how many weeks women were when they gave birth? I am almost 20 weeks pregnant and I have been told numerous things such as...majority of diabetic women have c-sections, most diabetic women are induced at 36 weeks, diabetic women are considered to be full-term at 38 weeks and will be induced at 39 weeks if it does happen naturally etc. As you can see, these are all quite different statements, so what better way then to ask women who have been through it. Please share your story with me, as I am so curious as to what I should be expecting!
I had c-sections twice, but my T1 friend had 3 natural births. And when I say natural, really natural. Where I live they discourage T1s from going past 37 weeks.
As for gestation - 25 weeks first time (Preeclampsia), 34 second time and all went swimmingly with a 6lb3oz baby
I was told they would hold me through to 40 weeks just like everyone else but I wound up having my son at 33 weeks. He had stopped growing at 28 weeks so it was a c section.
I am currently 37w3d and have a scheduled c-section for next week I’ll be 38w1d… My c-section was scheduled only because I have some retinopathy and new spots since I’ve been pregnant. My doc said that if my ophthmologist didn’t recommend a c-section, then she would induce me at around 38w… maybe a little closer to 39 if things continued to go well. And actually, I am speaking with her today about whether she will still induce me and then use the forceps instead of me pushing (bc of my eyes)… so she is still willing to consider NOT doing a c-section!!
I really think a lot depends on how well things are going for you individually and what experiences your doc has had with t1 pregnancies in the past… Mine is ULTRA cautious because I think she may have had some experiences that indicate a need to be, but I didn’t ask and I don’t want to know! It was likely with t1 diabetics where were not under great control, though! She has monitored me extremely closely since I’ve been in the 3rd trimester. I go in every week and get weekly HELLP Panels and collect 24 hour urine samples weekly (fun!). If she saw any indication that I needed to be delivered, she would… but thankfull that need has not arisen!!
37w is considered full term for ALL pregnancies, not just diabetics. I really do think that the best thing you can do is to not try to plan what will happen, because so much is up in the air, and like every single pregnancy experience out there, no two are alike. Just do the best that you can and take it all one day at a time! That’s what I did, and somehow I’ve made it here!!
I was induced with my daughter at 39 weeks. But she ended up being too big for me to push out on my own. They ended up using forceps which was awful. She had horrible scrapes on her cheeks and all bruised.
This time my Doctor will do an Amnio at 37 weeks to check the lungs and if all is well, I am choosing for a c-section.
Good luck with your pregnancy too!
I was induced at 37 weeks in first pregnancy for preeclempsia when my diabetes was not yet discovered. My water broke at 39 and a half weeks with my second when I was managing my diabetes. They said as long as I had no preeclempsia or the baby didn’t get too big I was ok to go to my due date.
My doctor would have had me go to 39 weeks, but I got pre-e at 37…so I was induced at 38. Baby wasn’t low enough and labor didn’t start after 14 hours, so I had a c-section. (Baby was 7 pounds, 13 oz)
38 weeks. C-Section. All the docs in my OB practice deliver Type 1s at 38 weeks - either by induction or c-section. We opted for the latter because she seemed to be growing quickly toward the end. She was estimated at 5 and a half pounds in week 33 and my OB was concerned she’d be too large for a safe delivery by week 38. Her growth slowed a little and she was 8lbs, 2oz at birth.
Thank you everyone for your fast, informative replies. It’s definately intereseting to see all of the different answers. I know I cannot plan my labor in any way as I’ll have to let nature take it’s course but it sure is interesting to hear what everyone else has gone through, and I love this website for that! If there is anyone who is approx. 18-20 weeks along that would like to buddy up with me, please let me know as I would love to compare stories
My first daughter was born at 37 weeks because I had pre-eclampsia and we found her lungs to be mature. Delivery was the only way to end the pre-eclampsia. She just turned 12 today! She was 6 lbs. 4 oz.
My second daughter was born at 38 weeks because my blood pressure had been climbing, although I did not have pre-eclampsia. She turns 9 in 4 days. She was 7 lbs. 7 oz.
My son was born at 38 weeks because I went into labor, but since he was 10 lbs (guestimate at ultrasound 4 days earlier) I had a c/section. He’ll turn 6 in July.
All 3 of my pregnancies were different too, so if you have another baby, I’m sure you’ll find very little is the same. And all were diabetic pregnancies.
Thank you so much for sharing Cara, it is so interesting to see what everybody has said. I am so glad you have three healthy kids, it’s so nice to know that just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things that other people can!
Hi! With my daughter who is now 2 years old, I had a c-section 10 days before my due date because she was looking pretty close to 9 pounds and my blood pressure was starting to rise. If they hadn’t done the c-section that day, I was going to be induced or have a c-section at 39 weeks anyway. With my twins who are nearly 3 months old, I developed severe pre-eclampsia at 34 1/2 weeks and was rushed to a bigger hospital where I had an emergency c-section. Luckily, they were big, strong, and 100% ready to be born! Where I live, if you are T1 and expecting 1 baby (multiple pregnancies are a whole different story), the docs usually let you go to 39 weeks unless something looks like it is wrong with the baby or mom. (They do lots of ultrasounds at the end and I went for lots of non-stress tests too…) And depending on the size of the baby, they either let you go naturally or have a c-section. I was pretty disappointed the 1st time around…I had wanted to go completely natural. BUT, now that I have 3 healthy children, I’m just thankful because ultimately, that’s what really matters…
I just delivered my daughter 11 days ago and she came out via c-section at 37 weeks exactly. I had preeclampsia (which caused me to be hospitalized for 3 1/2 weeks) but the c-section was due to some retinopathy near the macula of my left eye.
My baby was 6lbs, 15 oz, and totally healthy. She’s in my arms as I type this. It’s been a wild ride!
Congratulations on your new arrival, you must be so excited! Thanks for sharing your story with me, it’s so neat to hear of everyone’s experience. I also want to let you know that I admire you for what you do, with your blog that is! I heard you on Vancouver Virgin radio about a year ago I believe and it was so interesting to hear your story…you had me stop doing what I was doing at work just so I could listen to what you had to say.
Take care, and keep up the good work with your blog
Thanks, Amanda! (And thanks for listening to that Vancouver radio bit - I tend to ramble. And talk waaaay to fast. Anyone who could sit through that interview and not lose patience with me is a saint!) If there’s anything you need re: diabetes and pregnancy questions, please let me know! The experience is still very fresh for me, so if I can help, please ask!!
36 weeks, 3 days the first time, and 36 weeks 1 day the second. One was 6lb11 and one was 6 lb 13. I was induced the first time and had a scheduled c-section the second. My doc here routinely induces Type 1’s at 36 weeks no matter what her control, although my former OB in a different city said they would let me go to 38. Size issue aside, after 38 weeks, babies of T1 diabetic mothers are more prone to dying in utero, no one seems to know why. So my understanding is docs rarely exceed 38 weeks. I also think that in the US the use of forecepts is contraindicated in T1 moms. Mine adamantly refused, so ended up with a c-section, but it was not related to my diabetes.
Just out of curiosity, how long were you in the hospital for when you gave birth to your daughter? I am just trying to get myself prepared as I am not a fan of hospitals at all…mind you, who is, LOL!!!
I was in the hospital for a month due to the pre-eclampsia, but since I had a c-section, it was a mandated four days post-surgery. Which was fine by me, because the recovery was more intense than I had anticipated (and also Chris and I had a four day crash course on diaper changing, swaddling, burping, breastfeeding, and freaking out. ).
I’ll be 38w1d… My c-section was scheduled only because I have some retinopathy and new spots since I’ve been pregnant. My doc said that if my ophthmologist didn’t recommend a c-section, then she would induce me at around 38w… maybe a little closer to 39 if things continued to go well. And actually, I am speaking with her today about whether she will still induce me and then use the forceps instead of me pushing (bc of my eyes)… so she is still willing to consider NOT doing a c-section!!