Lisa: First Birth, NHS Hospital Induction at 42 Weeks, Gestational Diabetes, Oxytocin Drip, Pethidine, Epidural, Failed Ventouse, Forceps Delivery, Episiotomy, Third Degree Tear, Postpartum Haemorrhage, Doula

British Birthing Stories · Oct 6, 2026 · 53m

I spoke with Lisa, a birth doula and mum of three from Wimbledon, who shares the first of her three births: an NHS hospital induction at 42 weeks after a late gestational diabetes diagnosis.

Lisa was planning a home birth when a glucose tolerance test at 34 weeks came back positive for gestational diabetes. She controlled her blood sugars with diet and a scan showed a normal sized baby, but she was removed from the home birth team and told she'd be induced at 40 weeks. At 36 weeks a consultant underlined the risk of stillbirth in her notes. Lisa asked for the research behind it, and neither…