Any of you with GD taking Metformin?

[Bix]

Just done a quick search but can only seem to find threads about those with PCOS taking it.

I don't officially have GD this time round but had it in my first pregnancy and controlled with diet alone. I'm now at a different hospital and they are very overly obsessed with monitoring me and so I have been doing blood sugars since 11 weeks. They have all been fine but because yesterday's scan showed bubs was now slightly over the average line on the chart they want to start me on Metformin anyway.

From what the nurse said yesterday and from a little googling this morning, I'm quite worried about it. Are any of you taking it? How is it? What side affects are you experiencing? Has it had any affect on the growth of your baby between scans?

Anything you can tell me would be fab - I'm stressing

 

[Pixelle]

Hello

I have GD and was managing on diet alone for a week. That didn't work so I was then put on Metformin. I'm only on 2mg a day as I'm now on insulin as well.

I'll be taking the metformin until I give birth now and have been taking it for 5 weeks. I've had no problems with it at all. No side effects or anything. I was pretty worried about going on meds but my diabetes midwife reassured me that it's totally safe for baby.

I'm not sure I can comment on the growth of baby between scans as I'm on Insulin as well as metformin. But my baby is measuring slightly lower than average at the moment so the management of my GD has had an impact.

Hope this helps put your mind at rest

 

[Bix]

It has a little, thank you

 

[Bix]

Bump. Is noone else with GD taking this drug? Can't help but wonder why and it's making me not want to take it!

 

[Fifi61467]

Hi bix. I'm on it too. I'm 28 weeks and been on it since about 18 weeks. I have the slow release cos I've had it before for pcos but couldn't tolerate it at all. It gave me really bad runs but now I'm on the sr I have no problems. I'm also on insulin tho cos met alone doesn't control my sugars. Good luck and try not to worry. When I took it for pcos I read it can reduce miscarriage and also helps women conceive. They wouldn't prescribe it then if it would harm fetus. Ask your doc again about it if you're not sure. Don't take anything til you are happy cos you will just keep worrying

 

[Aus_Amy]

Hi bix. I'm on it too. I'm 28 weeks and been on it since about 18 weeks. I have the slow release cos I've had it before for pcos but couldn't tolerate it at all. It gave me really bad runs but now I'm on the sr I have no problems. I'm also on insulin tho cos met alone doesn't control my sugars. Good luck and try not to worry. When I took it for pcos I read it can reduce miscarriage and also helps women conceive. They wouldn't prescribe it then if it would harm fetus. Ask your doc again about it if you're not sure. Don't take anything til you are happy cos you will just keep worrying

My Dr told me the same thing - I have PCOS and took Metformin to conceive and reduce the risk of miscarriage (have a had one) - and still taking it throughout the pregnancy.. On insulin as well now..

 

[tigger867]

Hi ladies,

Im type 1 diabetic, which means, i had diabetes before i became preg. Ive been taking insulin most of my life, but also prescribed Metformin, while tcc and pregnancy. I had 3 other children with no complications, all born natrually, and none of the weights above 8lbs. Metformin just helps your cells to make use of your insulin in your body, and also for the baby to get his or her share of the insulin. Sometimes with GD, your body still produces insulin, but your cells block the insulin to be taken in, in other words, resisting it. Metformin opens those blocked cells to take the insulin as required. It doesnt harm the baby, if prescribed in the correct amount, according to your hba1c result, (which is the average blood glucose reading over 3 months). If your hba1c, is between 4.5 - 6.5%, then your taking the correct amount of metformin, and insulin if required. And this will insure that your baby will grow healthy, and well until the end.

 

[Bix]

Thank you ladies, I really appreciate your replies, and thank you for a great explanation of how it works Tigger!

You have set my mind to rest somewhat over my fears and having talked it over with OH, I think what I will do for now is take it up until the next scan in just under 4 weeks, see whether it's had any effect on baby's growth and then play it by ear from there. I am still a little dubious about taking it considering that all my blood sugar readings have been normal and bubs could just be having a natural growth spurt! The hospital where I had my first son were all for inducing me on my due date because they were so worried about my son being too big, but he was born at 38+6 and weighed just 5lb 7!!! Too big, my a*se lol.

So anyway, I appreciate your posts, it's helped my understanding and feel I am making more of an informed decision, rather than being bullied into doing things just because they say so!

 

[Caezzybe]

I wanted to go on Metformin rather than insulin when I was diagnosed and my hospital refused, the reason being that they had "very good statstics" at the hospital. I basically refused the insulin and ended up restrictng my diet to virtually no carbohydrate for the rest of the pregnancy to keep my sugar levels under control. A friend of mine registered with a different hospital in the same vague geographic area as me and she was put on Metformin and induced at 38 weeks. I managed to escape induction as I went into labout spontaneously at 38+5 (I was scheduled for induction a couple of days before 40 weeks).

I think the answer to why some people are on it and others aren't is that it depends on the hospital. Assuming that you're in the UK, the NICE guidelines say that Metformin is safe to use in pregnancy.