Help- Need a little information

[sunnym]

My sister has GD (controlled by diet) she has really done very well with it. Last week weight 'guestimation" was done saying baby weighed 5 lbs. Today thy're thinking more of 5.75#

She is due this Saturday- and they are planning to induce this friday.

Is it normal to induce becasue of GD even when baby is so small?

Does any one have any resourses that will help that I can look through.

She is planning to do as much as she can natural - or atleast as long as possible to counter any slowing effects of the medication. I am afraid it they use a induction method the discomfort may be too much for her.

Also if there are any medications that are teh lesser of two evils I would appreciate hearing your advise. Thank you

I am so excited I will be her birth coach - the only ones I've been at so far are mine.

Sunny

[CEG]

I think ultrasound is considered to be pretty unreliable in estimating weight- about 25% variation on either side at term is the common margin of error is what I have read.

As far as estimating weight a good doc/mw can feel her belly and estimate weight also. My MW is very accurate- she was only 3 oz off with my babe and within a few with several friends.

If your sister doesn't want to be induced she should ask her doc/mw why. There may be another reason. If she wants to go natural getting induced is going to make that more difficult. Best wishes!

Disclaimer: I am a student, def not an expert

[Jolie, BSN]

CEG is correct that U/S provides a rough estimate, at best, of fetal weight at term. A 25% error margin is not unusual. But fetal size is NOT the same thing as gestation. When you say she is term, I assume you mean that she is at 37-40 weeks of gestation.

Women with diabetes (gestational or otherwise) are rarely allowed to go beyond their due dates, as the risk of fetal complications, including fetal demise rises sharply, much more so than for non-diabetic moms. In the absence of other risk factors, I assume this is the reason for her scheduled induction.

Regardless of the reason, your sister needs to discuss all of this with her OB/midwife so that she understands the risks and benefits for herself and her baby.

[mandana]

My opinion comes from the perspective of having given birth twice, not as a nurse (because I'm still a student).

If they are inducing a day before her due date it is likely that she is already showing signs of progression. I doubt that baby's weight is a factor in choosing to induce her one day early. I also doubt that the GD is a real factor in electing to go one day early.

As far as the pain goes, some people find the pain of childbirth manageable, some do not. I went on my own once and was induced once and there wasn't an appreciable difference between the pain either way. Also, the pain was definitely NOT manageable for me, either way.

Good luck to her!

Amanda