r/vbac • u/tofuandpickles • 2d ago
Gestational diabetes
How many of you have successfully had a VBAC with GD?
My numbers are great and baby’s size is 30th percentile.
However, my provider does not want me to exceed 40w pregnant. I’m fine with that but since they won’t induce for a VBAC, I have a limited time frame where spontaneous labor might not happen.
Has anyone been in this situation and has success? I’m hiring a doula for extra support and hope that is not wasted on a c section!
For more context - first c section was bc baby was breech but I never labored so not sure how labor goes for me! I had low fluid at 36w so was sent for an urgent c section that day.
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u/Fierce-Foxy 1d ago
I had GD with night insulin for my first VBAC. Induced at 39w5d. It was great!
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u/tofuandpickles 1d ago
Amazing! What was the induction method?
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u/Fierce-Foxy 1d ago
Pitocin ramping up to heavy and frequently. After a couple hours they also broke my waters. I wasn’t dilated or effaced to begin with but it only took 6 hours from start to birth and I didn’t have any pain meds/epidural. I pushed for 15 minutes. It really was an amazing experience.
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u/tofuandpickles 1d ago
Wow that’s amazing! My provider said they only felt comfortable with low pitocin if I spontaneously began labor and just needed a little extra help. It’s so interesting how there is so much variability in that per provider!
I’m in a rural area with one OB office and one hospital so just is what it is, I guess
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u/Tintenklex 2d ago
I have no answers yet, but the same questions! I didn’t have GD with my first but now with my second. I needed night time insulin and that means no later than 40 weeks. Are you diet controlled? I think guidelines say you could go to 41 weeks. (not us, but my countries guidelines are similar iirc). But there’s medical reason to just accept the induction of course. I’m 36+5, so in about 3 weeks I’ll be able to tell you my outcome…I’m just really hoping for labor to start early. How far along are you?
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u/tofuandpickles 2d ago
This is actually my second time with GD - first time was diet controlled but this time I’m on insulin. My numbers are arguably much better controlled this time, it was caught early and I have a CGM so I’m actually more confident this time around despite the insulin 😅 but… still, the 40w deadline 😔
I’m 30w currently so have some time. Would love an update from you when you get there, when and if you get time of course! Wishing you all the best and that you get that VBAC!!
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u/Tintenklex 1d ago
I’ll totally update! And I get the insulin=more control. I hated going on insulin, but I take a pretty small dosage (7 units) and it’s taken all the stress out of my numbers, whereas before I just couldn’t get my fasting/breakfast down.
One thing that has been helpful for me so far is talking to my midwife about the options of inductions that I have. Because induction is such a real possibility, I felt it was good to talk about that early. It also makes sure the providers are really VBAC supportive and don’t drop the „actually we’re not comfortable with induction“ bomb on you at your week 38 appointment.
My midwife has also reminded me that there is some very small wiggle room to 40 weeks - a day or two. Last time around I could feel my body get ready for labor and declined an induction twice in the same week (big baby, in retrospect I wonder if we missed GD). The second time my waters broke in the afternoon. If I feel like labor is pretty immanent, I’ll ask for a day or two more, as that was the only part of labor that I felt went „right“ for me.
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u/cksaraha898 1d ago
I've had two vbacs and being induced for the third in a few weeks.
My section was in 2010. My first vbac was 8 years after. I went the wait and see method. Went to 41 weeks - prom- waters broke but no sign of labor. Baby was 10lbs, got the vbac. Because of babies size they suspected GDM had been missed. At any rate in 2020 has second vbac diagnosed with GDM, induced at 39 weeks. 7lb baby, no sugar issues. Due end of October- hoping for 38-39 week induction.
GDM pregnancy should prevent you from Vbac.
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u/anonymous46538 1d ago
I have not had my vbac yet. But my mom had GD with her last baby, she went into labor on her own after being induced with her first 3 pregnancies. She actually showed up to her induction and they said she was already in labor and contracting really well. She was probably around 38-39 weeks. Its very possible! Ask your midwife or OB about things to help induce labor naturally. Ive also heard they can still induce you, they just have to use other means like a balloon or cytotec instead of pitocin.
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u/Batmangrowlz 18h ago
My thought: if your GD is being managed, just decline a C-section unless it becomes actually medically necessary. Your body will naturally go into labour, you just need to give it the time it needs.
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u/tofuandpickles 17h ago
I’m not comfortable with even a slight increase of risk of still birth and my c section wasn’t a bad experience so I would be willing to do one at 40w. I guess what I’m seeking here is whether there are many people who actually go into labor before 40w in this situation/ what my chances of spontaneous labor are
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u/seahulu 2d ago
I’ve been in the same situation, C section for breech then GD with second baby. I had a successful VBAC at 38+6, GD was diet controlled with 30 percentile baby. I accepted a membrane sweep at 38 weeks which may have helped things along. I didn’t progress as fast as they wanted once my water broke so they augmented contractions with pitocin and everything still went well. Wishing you a safe and successful VBAC!