Delivery

During the last stage of pregnancy, you will probably be attending the clinic every week to check your health and you baby's well being.

• If you blood glucose control has been good and your pregnancy has no complications, you may be able to go into labour at or close to the normal time
• If labour does not start of its own accord, be prepared to be induced

Your doctors will not want your pregnancy to continue beyond your due date.

What kind of delivery?

Your Consultant Obstetrician will decide when and how to deliver your baby, based on discussions with you and your Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Midwife and Diabetes Consultant. They will explain the choices available and take your wishes into account as far as they can.

Stay open minded because labour does not always go exactly as expected. Don't be upset if you have to change your plans.

When labour begins

In almost every way your labour should be just like everyone else's. The main exceptions will be:

• You will be given a drip containing a mixture of glucose and insulin. This helps control your levels throughout labour
• Your blood glucose levels will be monitored frequently

Premature delivery If your baby needs to be delivered early you may be given steroids for 48 hours before the baby is born. Steroids help your baby's lungs to mature but they also temporarily upset your diabetes control, so you will need to come into hospital and your insulin may need to be adjusted.