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Episode 293 Heidi's VBAC + Gestational Diabetes, GBS & Advanced Maternal Age
Description
It can be difficult to find VBAC support with gestational diabetes and most who are supportive of VBAC highly recommend a 39-week induction. Heidi’s first pregnancy/birth included gestational diabetes with daily insulin injections, a 39-week induction, Penicillin during labor for GBS, pushing for five hours, and a C-section for arrest of descent due to OP presentation.
Heidi wasn’t sure if she wanted to go through another birth after her first traumatic experience, but she found a very supportive practice that made her feel safe to go for it again. Though many practices would have risked her out of going for a VBAC due to her age and subsequent gestational diabetes diagnosis, her new practice was so reassuring, calm, and supportive of how Heidi wanted to birth.
Heidi knew she wanted to go into spontaneous labor and try for an unmedicated VBAC. With the safety and support of her team, she was able to do just that. At just over 40 weeks, Heidi went into labor spontaneously and labored beautifully. Instead of pushing for over five hours, Heidi only pushed for 30 minutes! It was exactly the dreamy birth she hoped it would be.
Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols
How to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for Parents
Full Transcript under Episode Details
05:50 Review of the Week
08:04 Heidi’s first pregnancy with gestational diabetes
12:05 Taking insulin
18:08 39-week induction
20:59 Pushing
24:29 Arrest of descent and opting for a C-section
27:06 Researching providers before second pregnancy
38:04 Discussions around induction
41:45 NSTs twice a week
47:10 Testing for preeclampsia
54:53 Spontaneous labor
57:43 Going to the hospital
1:02:03 Laboring in the tub
1:06:22 Pushing for 30 minutes
Meagan: Hello, Women of Strength. It is Meagan and we have a friend from New Hampshire. Her name is Heidi. Hello, how are you?
Heidi: I’m doing great. How are you?
Meagan: I am so great. I’m excited to record this story today because there are so many times in The VBAC Link Community on Facebook where we see people commenting about gestational diabetes and for a really long time on the podcast, we didn’t have any stories about gestational diabetes. Just recently, this year really, we’ve had some gestational diabetes stories. I just love it because I think a lot of the time in the system, there is doubt placed with the ability to give birth with gestational diabetes or there is the whole will induce or won’t induce type thing, and with gestational diabetes, you have to have a baby by 39 weeks if they won’t induce you and it just goes.
So I love hearing these stories and Heidi’s story today– she actually had gestational diabetes with both so with her C-section and with her VBAC. It was controlled. It was amazing. That’s another thing that I love hearing is that it is possible to control. W