My daughter is Diabetic and pregnant. She is 18 and according to her not due until end of January or 1st week of Feb.
Doctors are thinking of inducing her next Tuesday. They wanted to do it today but she wasn't quite ready so they ware going to check her next week with a view of keeping her in.

I am a bit concerned about inducement of labor and have heard it could greatly increase her chances of further intervention by way of C-Section.
They, as of today, estimate the baby's weight at 7lb 7oz....and I guess they are concerned if she goes another three weeks the baby will be huge.

I am supposed to be her birthing partner as BF doesn't want to watch and she doesn't want him there if hes going to be squeamish...
I am wondering really what to expect with an induced labor and will they likely let me in if they have to do a c-sect.?

All a bit of excitement and concern..not sure what to expect....I will be ok on the day like...but this week will be heck...as the doc told her to walk lots and eat spicy food to try to make her go on her own...Not sure what use I'll be at work till then either...HA.

Cheers and thanks.

Well I am not diabetic but both my children were over 9 pounds (9,14 and 9,9) and I gave birth naturally.  I am not very tall.

My Mum had 4 out fo 5 at 8 or 9 pounds ans only 5 feet 1 inch tall.

If she and baby are well and she is not unusually narrow in the pelvis (at her age she should be flexible) then why the hurry?

I've had 3 children and ALL were induced. The first because I was overdue, the next two because I suffered from symphis pubis and was in unbearable pain. So I don't know anything else but certainly none of mine resulted in a section. It can take a while to get going, few hours for sure (when I was just bored or asleep), but then things speed up.

My last baby was induced as i was 10 days overdue every went like  text book delivery ( 8 Ib baby ) just it can take a few hours for labour to start .
so it could be a long wait for you and your daughter. good luck anyway let us know how things go.

they normally let you in for c sec

I was incduced with baby number 3 as he was 10 days late - and I still managed to put them off until he was 2 weeks late in total! He was a big boy weighing in at 13lbs especially as my pre pregnancy weight was only 8 stone!!! It look a long time for things to get moving and the actual induction and breaking of waters was very unpleasant but the birth was quite quick with only gas and air to see me through it.

If she's still feeling ok (apart from the usual pregnancy 'fed up' stage) then maybe she could talk to her midwife about waiting a little longer - I personally feel they intervene for their own convenience sometimes. By the same account if it's having an adverse effect on her health then the baby is certainly big enough and 'old' enough to not have any problems... tho be warned it could be very hairy - my first was 2 weeks early and looked like a little chimp when he was born! :)

i had a c-section and my friend came in with me ..we had Meatloaf "Bat out of Hell" playing as my son was born...it was amazing....

I would ask if you could attend an antenatal appointment with her and ask all these questions . I think you are right that they are concerned about babies size as you daughter is diabetic and indeed there may be other implication if she goes to term. I have not been induced myself but from friends expereince the main difference seems to be that the contractions come faster from the beginning.
I have been a birth partner 3 times because of men that are squeamish and each time was different but I would not have missed it for the world.
Good luck to all of you x

I'm diabetic, was induced with my first born naturally 3 weeks early 7lb 10oz,  second born naturally induced 5 weeks early 8lb 10oz.......third emergency c-section 9 weeks early 2lb 12oz, No. 4  born by planned c-section on due date 10lb 5oz...........then I put an end to it all and was sterilised at the same time as No. 4.

I hd sugar in my urine through both pregnancies my first was 10lb 9oz OUCH, my second premature at 8lb 8oz.

My b/f husband would not go with hjer when she had Charoltte so i went I was really panic struck she had a C section but it was ok and I held her first!!!!! Im sure they will let you in and the hand holding is most important, dont worry you are the "rock" remember the imodium for the panic bits and enjoy the experiance Nannie!!!

Another secret my brother took me for a cross country van ride I gave birth that night!!!!

You are my hero 10lb 9oz was big but you are my hero, tell me did he stay big? I ask because I was told Ben would be the same size as others by 18 months he wasnt he's 6'5.5" now.

i was induced two weeks early because of pre eclamsia. No problem at all apart from the labour did drag on a bit. But then again i was lieing on a bed waiting were as my next pregnancy i went naturally two weeks early and spent the first couple of hours at home so it didnt seem to long.

My son was 10lb 5oz born, he's now 14 and an average size for his age, so he definitely didn't stay big, he was a chubby toddler though....lol.

I got gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, (it certainly affected my attitude to Mars bars along the lines of what do I want a mars or a 13lb baby!) I was induced about a week early. they usually induce diabetic mums a week or so early as the diabetes can cause the placenta to fail before it reaches full term. I did go on to have a c-section but all in all I would prefer that to the other. I also had to have regular CTG tests which monitor the baby's movements over a set period of time. My blood sugar control was so good that my son only weighed 8lb 7oz, he still looked huge in the incubator compared to the tiddly little souls in the other incubators! ( I only wish I had the same control now!) That's the other thing to be aware of baby's of diabetic mums often go to special care if they have trouble maintaining their blood sugar. Don't worry it's quite normal and doesn't have any long term side effects and doesn't mean that they have diabetes. Good Luck and enjoy him/her whenever and however they arrive.
Now, he is not that tall but is built like a brick outhouse!

My 10lb 14 1/2oz baby son, is now a 6' 4" 20 stone big boy..............
Karen

Diabetes is not a reason to induce and the baby isn't overly big so you need to ask why they want to induce .
Yes , inducing increases your chances of a section but many people are induced and don't need one .
You can go in for the section if she has an epidural .
Each hospital has a different procedure for inducing but if she is favourable for a 'sweep' of the cervix that can start things off , some people need a Prostin gel or 2 inserted in the v@gina to make them favourable . If they can break the waters they will , then she can have a hormone drip IV to help things along .

Good luck and enjoy the new bundle !

My blood sugars were very well controlled with each pregnancy, stayed around 4, but my babies were still big

It is nice to read all the nice stories of big babies. I had two big'uns 10'4, 9'8 anf my daughter was a reasonable 8'8.....I always had to laugh because in the hospital nursery my babies were like a tourist attraction...all the other mothers walking by just  to see the "giant" baby.

My daughter has been quite good with her diabetes. Her blood sugars are not always the best even though she is good about her injections. Her main test Hb1Ac (diabetics will know what that is) is very good. She is on 4-5 injections a day depending on what her levels are. She has a midwife for after the birth but the consultants are running the show in terms of the birth.
She text me tonight she has been taking raspberry tablets and had a vindaloo for dinner....she said they were planning to let her labor very long and if her cervix isn't soft enough they were going to section her anyway.
I am goiing with her on Tuesday to hear for myself as she sometimes gets herself all worked up and only hears the bad bits and forgets all the explaining before hand.
So we will see. The

Thanks for all the replies.

I am going with her to the doctor on tuesday and will ask for more information then. She seems to think they wont let her labor very long and also she had told me they plan to do a c-section if the the cervix isn't ready on tuesday. It just seems like overkill to me. She doesn't cope well with being in hospital and getting poked and prodded.

She on occasion will latch on to the worst part of a conversation only to find out later on it was one of many possible outcomes. So I think it will be a good idea if I ask the doctors what is going on ....but thanks

Oh and during her scan she was told baby was a boy.....
So I named him George....(she has a name but now george is a sort of banter between us)....If any one knows....I am going to hug him and kiss him and call him George.....so it stuck...:-)

I know what you mean about your daughter latching on to the worst bit, my 17 year old is similar and although has had too many pokes and prods from hopsital she really doesn't cope well.
I am sure all will be fine and "George" will soon be here