Tips for labour

Does anyone who’s given birth already have tips for managing GD during labour? I’ve been given my GD birth care plan and my sugars need to be tested every hour and maintained between 4-7 throughout active labour or else I’ll need an IV infusion. Not the worst thing I know but I’m hoping for a birth centre birth so that would mean I need to be transferred. They’ve recommended 100mls of Lucozade every hour if I can’t eat. I guess I stick with my usual GD diet as best I can for as long as I can and then switch to Lucozade when the pain is too much and just hope that doesn’t do crazy things to my sugars?! Im diet controlled but I’ve done that with huge amounts of effort because I’ve been trying to avoid medication. They’ve said stress will increase sugar readings and the length of the labour will have an impact so obviously things I can’t control or prepare for but if anyone has any advice, I’m all ears.

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PS should have said this is my second baby so I have given birth before but I didn’t have GD first time around so I’m mainly worried about how that will affect things rather than any general birth complications that might arise.

I had GD in my last pregnancy but don't this time weirdly. When I had it I was unable to use birth centre (I wanted a water birth but wasn't an option due to GD) because they have to monitor your BP, babies BP and rates at all times and can't do that in the water. So you're very unlikely to get that. I was induced also due to placenta failure/small baby and everything went well anyway. They told me not to really bring my own snacks etc (I had brought Crackers to nibble on) but I had hospital food they offered me but had to go for the options that were lowest in sugars. Couldn't have the deserts etc. As for labour I had water + Lucozade just to keep it in check. Afterwards they offered toast + coffee as normal. + You're advised to stay (no matter what time you birth baby) because they're supposed to do checks on you both 3-5hours after just to make sure everything's fine with glucose levels. Hope this helps x

I was diet controlled and my sugars were fine in labour even though I didn’t eat or drink anything throughout! I also missed dinner as I was induced and the meal service went round while I was having my water broken.

I brought my own snacks and I ate throughout labor until I got an epidural. I brought peanut butter, fruit, cut veggies, protien bars, and protien shakes. I didn't have any issues during and baby was fine after delivery.

I had gd and was able to go to the birth centre as long as my numbers were ok and diet controlled. I didn’t end up giving birth there but that’s for other reasons. Just take snacks that have worked for you through pregnancy and the Lucozade and you should be fine, I just took like low sugar cereal bars, nuts etc things that were easy. I didnt really end up eating much though as I didn’t find myself hungry during labour I only ate a couple things here n there for energy! Also why don’t you get the zero sugar lucozade? That’s the one I had Hope it all goes well!

I wasn't medicated for it (was borderline, probably needed insulin but they diagnosed me so late I was like, whatever and used a glucose monitor and was just sad I missed carbs) but the worst was the first 48hrs they came in to check our son's blood sugar EVERY SINGLE HOUR. Team no sleep

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