The B.R.A.I.N Tool Podcast
Decisions are going to have to be made for your birth, let them be by you. I am so passionate about informed decision making when it comes to women making choices about their births. However, there isn't always enough time to gather all the information or enough information given. This podcast aims to bridge that gap, it aims to take a deep dive into all the things that may come up for you in your pregnancy and gives you the information to decide for yourself, what you want to do with your own body in your own birth......exactly the way it should be.
The B.R.A.I.N Tool Podcast
Ep 31 Gestational Diabetes
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Hey Everyone,
In this episode, we explore one of the most common decisions facing pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes.... when and how to give birth.
If you’ve been told you have gestational diabetes, particularly if your blood sugars are well controlled and your baby is growing normally, you may find yourself wondering:
- Do I really need an induction?
- What are the actual risks of waiting for spontaneous labour?
- How much higher is the risk of stillbirth?
- Is a caesarean safer?
- Are the risks quoted to me really high?
We break down what the evidence actually says an i'll help you work out how to individualise your own care
In the episode
We discuss:
- The difference between diet-controlled, metformin-controlled and insulin-treated gestational diabetes
- Why not all gestational diabetes pregnancies carry the same level of risk
- How fetal growth can provide clues about how well glucose levels have been controlled
- Why a 50th-centile baby may have a different risk profile from a baby measuring above the 90th centile
Induction at 39 Weeks
Many NHS trusts recommend induction at 39 weeks for women with gestational diabetes
We explore:
- why a 39-week induction?
- The potential benefits of earlier birth
- The downsides of induction
Waiting for Spontaneous Labour
For women with excellent blood sugar control and normal growth scans, waiting for labour to start naturally may also be a reasonable option.
We discuss:
- The benefits of spontaneous labour
- How stillbirth risk changes
Key Takeaways
- Most women with well-controlled gestational diabetes will have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
- A diagnosis of gestational diabetes does not automatically mean a high-risk birth.
- Fetal growth, glucose control and overall pregnancy health all matter when assessing risk.
- Induction at 39 weeks and waiting for spontaneous labour are both reasonable options for many women with uncomplicated gestational diabetes.
- Understanding absolute risk can help families make more informed decisions.
Resources Mentioned
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7154381/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2990903/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2804874/
This episode is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.
For more birth related education check out
www.thismumhypnobirthing.com
@thismumhypnobirthing