United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have diabetes and my high risk ob/gyn wants to deliver early because he is scared the baby will get to big. I am about 35 weeks and the baby weighs 6 lbs 5 oz. already. Now he has me doing stress tests 2 times a week and thinks at 37-38 weeks we should do an amniocentesis test to see if the lungs are fully developed. Has anyone ever had any of this done to them. I am freaked out because I hear negative things about this amnio test from others. Anyone had experience with this?

Hi. I have heard of doing an amniocentesis to check lung maturity before induction of labor. What they are checking for is the L/S ratio to see if your baby's lungs are mature. Induction early is a tough decision, but if you know the L/S ration is good, then there's no fears of the typical respiratory problems of a newborn due to lung immaturity. If the level isn't good, then the induction is put on hold. Diabetics mothers tend to have babies that are larger than non-diabetics, so your OBGYN is trying to avoid this by an early induction it seems. Also, babies of diabetic mothers tend to run the risk of less lung maturity. Therefore, doing the amniocentesis to check lung maturity is sound advice. The amniocentesis poses risks which you should discuss with your OBGYN. One of the biggest risks is infection or rupture of membranes (bag of water breaks). Keep this in mind, too. Trying to avoid a difficult delivery due to a large baby doesn't always work. I had delivered a 9 lb 12 oz baby boy with difficulties, then was induced for my 8 lb 3 oz daughter and she is the one with the Erb's Palsy. Lots of food for thought here. I don't know if I've helped you or not, but I hope I did. By the way, I'm a labor and delivery RN with a daughter with RBPI. That's how I know about the amniocentesis and such. Good luck!

Induction is itself a risk factor for SD. Discuss all this with your ob/gyn, ask what will be done if SD happens?

I am sorry I forgot to mention I am scheduled to have a c-section at the end of May due to the size of the baby.

I had an amnio with my 2nd baby and was induced due to lack of amniotic fluid. She was 3 weeks early and would not have survived until her "due" date in those conditions. They do an ultrasound to determine where the baby is, they numb your tummy and they inject a needle inside t otake a sample of fluid from. They didn't even let me see the needle; it was not bad. It was scary for me only because there was no fluid from which to take a sample really... LOL but otherwise it is an easy procedure. Good luck, I was terrified too, but it really wasn't bad.

I had an amnio with my 2nd baby and was induced due to lack of amniotic fluid. She was 3 weeks early and would not have survived until her "due" date in those conditions. They do an ultrasound to determine where the baby is, they numb your tummy and they inject a needle inside t otake a sample of fluid from. They didn't even let me see the needle; it was not bad. It was scary for me only because there was no fluid from which to take a sample really... LOL but otherwise it is an easy procedure. Good luck, I was terrified too, but it really wasn't bad.

I had one done with my second baby. My OB was just taking extra precautions given the circumstances with the first baby. She did the test and then induced me 3 weeks early. My second child, at 3 weeks early, still weighed in at 8lbs 5 ozs. I was scared as well, but if you have a good OB, he or she can get you thru it---no problem.