GD support thread

[HellBunny]

Thanks i have to make an appointment to see my gp this week then i imagine he will refer me to the (oh so blinking lovely and helpful) diabetes team lol, you know what they're like with the ridicule advice, "stick to bananas and weetabix"

I've been checking my readings and it seems i am fine with things like that (i had a banana) and i didn't go over 5.9, so i'm wondering if i'm either pre-diabetic or i just early stages of diabetes, because a reading of 13.2 is defo diabetic, but i seem fine with all the things which shoved my readings high in pregnancy like rice, fruit, potatos etc, its only sugary drinks which give me the high ones.

I'm abit blahhh about it all really but i suppose it is what it is and i'l get on with it even though it probably buggers up my ambitions of being a paramedic (i may end up on insulin in a few years and i can't then do a job which involves driving passengers)

x

hellbunny - don't let it stop you going for what you want to do. As if it ever did get to insulin stage you could adjust your work in the health field and slot in were you were able to carry on working in certain role.- i personally think you would be fab diabetes specialist nurse - didn't you fancy that at one point. Imagine helping all those pregnant women like us and I can't imagine your advice would be banana and weetabix based lol!
With your blood monitor readings hopefully this means it will just be a case of diet tweaking here and there - or rather staying away from really bad sugars like the fizzy drinks. keep us updated and there maybe a chance that your body has been through the stress of pregnancy and it is that that has pushed it over but does not mean it will progress. I hope doctor gives you more answers. big hugs though - you were one of the people that really helped me get through my pregnancy on here and you are a very positive person and think even if this is full on diabetes I could see you using it to your advantage to working in the health field. One of my mws was diabetic and when I saw her with my last prwegnancy she was the most compassionate about what I was going through and the stress i was under having gd.
x

Thankyou

I'm edging towards being a midwife, i've been torn between that, paramedic and diabetes nurse for a while so i think i will go down that route, and maybe specialise in diabetes that way (hopefully be a better one than your diabetic midwife i hope lol!)


About the numbers after pregnancy, the diagnosis for diabetes is any random reading at 11.1mmol or over, or a GTT 11.1 2 hours later. Insulin resistance or Pre-diabetes is when a GTT 2 hour comes back between 7.8 and 11mmol.

Its def a good idea to see your GP, i hope you don't have diabetes, but part of me thinks maybe it takes a while for the body to readjust after pregnancy, especially in subsequent pregnancies with GD, did you have GD with your first little one?

My fasting came back at 5.6mmol which is a tad higher than what i'd like considering i hadn't eaten for 20 hours (lack of time then by the time both babies had settled down it was too late to eat with the 12 hour thing)

 

[marley79]

Thanks hellbunny.
Yes I did have GD last time and there is only 16monhts between my babies - as I got pregnant at 7 months postpartum, so I wonder if that could have contributed. I do think I probably was always prone towards diabetes a little as I often get hypogylcemia when i'm tired or run down.
you would make fantastic MW - esp diabetic one. Mine really is so wishy washy. you
know way more than her already! And have a better manner.
when you say your fasting came back at 5.6 (what test was that - did you do at home or through doctors). Is that were they test your blood after not eating through the night - i.e. before brekfast. I've been doing my own prebrekfast readings and they are around 5.4 (after 11hours)
how did they make your diabetic diagnossis waas it with gtt or the fasting sugars or by using monitor. Are you type 1 or 2 or predaibetic. I have a feeling mine won't be completely clear but not sure where i'll fall.
sorry last question but because I've had high readings and I feel awful with 2 weeks old who has cold, and total sleep deprivation, I've started to eat diabetic type diet again to help maintain sugars and help me feel better but don't want my blood testing to be coming back ok because I've controlled with diet - i want to know where I stand and can then control with diet. so maybe before test I should eat what i want for a few days - does this make any sense or do you know what they advise on this.
big hugs - thanks for your help hb. x

 

[madmae]

Hey all.....sorry been missing but my pc is giving up the ghost so I am posting quickly whilst I can....before the dreaded blue screen of death comes back.

So tomorrow is the big day thankfully. I have to call the hospital to see if they have a bed at 6.30am. I am so ready for this pregnancy to be over with as with all the water and now hypos every day I have just about had enough. I am hoping hubby will soon be able to fix the pc so that I can spend a little time on the thread catching up.

 

[marley79]

Hey all.....sorry been missing but my pc is giving up the ghost so I am posting quickly whilst I can....before the dreaded blue screen of death comes back.

So tomorrow is the big day thankfully. I have to call the hospital to see if they have a bed at 6.30am. I am so ready for this pregnancy to be over with as with all the water and now hypos every day I have just about had enough. I am hoping hubby will soon be able to fix the pc so that I can spend a little time on the thread catching up.

thinking of you xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[izzy29]

Hey all.....sorry been missing but my pc is giving up the ghost so I am posting quickly whilst I can....before the dreaded blue screen of death comes back.

So tomorrow is the big day thankfully. I have to call the hospital to see if they have a bed at 6.30am. I am so ready for this pregnancy to be over with as with all the water and now hypos every day I have just about had enough. I am hoping hubby will soon be able to fix the pc so that I can spend a little time on the thread catching up.

Good luck, how exciting x

 

[PCOSMomToTwo]

Had my appts today!!

I'm 37.5 weeks ... 3cm and 70% effaced ... Baby weighs 6lbs 5oz apprx.

I'm really ready for this munchkin to come on out.

 

[HellBunny]

Thanks hellbunny.
Yes I did have GD last time and there is only 16monhts between my babies - as I got pregnant at 7 months postpartum, so I wonder if that could have contributed. I do think I probably was always prone towards diabetes a little as I often get hypogylcemia when i'm tired or run down.
you would make fantastic MW - esp diabetic one. Mine really is so wishy washy. you
know way more than her already! And have a better manner.
when you say your fasting came back at 5.6 (what test was that - did you do at home or through doctors). Is that were they test your blood after not eating through the night - i.e. before brekfast. I've been doing my own prebrekfast readings and they are around 5.4 (after 11hours)
how did they make your diabetic diagnossis waas it with gtt or the fasting sugars or by using monitor. Are you type 1 or 2 or predaibetic. I have a feeling mine won't be completely clear but not sure where i'll fall.
sorry last question but because I've had high readings and I feel awful with 2 weeks old who has cold, and total sleep deprivation, I've started to eat diabetic type diet again to help maintain sugars and help me feel better but don't want my blood testing to be coming back ok because I've controlled with diet - i want to know where I stand and can then control with diet. so maybe before test I should eat what i want for a few days - does this make any sense or do you know what they advise on this.
big hugs - thanks for your help hb. x

If you were to be pre-diabetic, i've heard it can be reversed by eating a diabetic diet (lowish carb/wholegrain/low sugar etc)
Have you tried downing a sugary drink and testing 1-2 hours later? What are your numbers like with things which you found you couldn't have in pregnancy but what the diebetes nurses advised (like cereals/breads etc)

Originally my glucose tolerance test (done at the doctors) came back at 13.2, then they decided that was my iron count (Bolton NHS just get more hilarious by the minute, they messed up my glucose test when pregnant with Jayden they can't seem to get the results right) so then they told me it actually came back at 9.8 which is pre-diabetic, so i'm half way there which i kind of knew, so for now i'm just cutting back on sugary things but eating normal (which i seem to be ok with) i did have abit of cake though this afternoon

When you go for your GTT eat normal for a few days, as they usually advice for the GTT in pregnancy i think it gives more accurate results (though if you were to be full blown diabetic then i doubt it would make a difference)

I hope i helped abit but if you need any more advice i will help where i can xxx


Helen i'm so excited for you!! I can't believe its tomorrow already it doesn't seem 5 minutes since you were around 24 weeks pregnant you said it was ages away! good luck i'l be thinking of you

 

[ameeann]

good luck madmae!!!! xxxx

 

[marley79]

Thanks hellbunny.
Yes I did have GD last time and there is only 16monhts between my babies - as I got pregnant at 7 months postpartum, so I wonder if that could have contributed. I do think I probably was always prone towards diabetes a little as I often get hypogylcemia when i'm tired or run down.
you would make fantastic MW - esp diabetic one. Mine really is so wishy washy. you
know way more than her already! And have a better manner.
when you say your fasting came back at 5.6 (what test was that - did you do at home or through doctors). Is that were they test your blood after not eating through the night - i.e. before brekfast. I've been doing my own prebrekfast readings and they are around 5.4 (after 11hours)
how did they make your diabetic diagnossis waas it with gtt or the fasting sugars or by using monitor. Are you type 1 or 2 or predaibetic. I have a feeling mine won't be completely clear but not sure where i'll fall.
sorry last question but because I've had high readings and I feel awful with 2 weeks old who has cold, and total sleep deprivation, I've started to eat diabetic type diet again to help maintain sugars and help me feel better but don't want my blood testing to be coming back ok because I've controlled with diet - i want to know where I stand and can then control with diet. so maybe before test I should eat what i want for a few days - does this make any sense or do you know what they advise on this.
big hugs - thanks for your help hb. x

If you were to be pre-diabetic, i've heard it can be reversed by eating a diabetic diet (lowish carb/wholegrain/low sugar etc)
Have you tried downing a sugary drink and testing 1-2 hours later? What are your numbers like with things which you found you couldn't have in pregnancy but what the diebetes nurses advised (like cereals/breads etc)

Originally my glucose tolerance test (done at the doctors) came back at 13.2, then they decided that was my iron count (Bolton NHS just get more hilarious by the minute, they messed up my glucose test when pregnant with Jayden they can't seem to get the results right) so then they told me it actually came back at 9.8 which is pre-diabetic, so i'm half way there which i kind of knew, so for now i'm just cutting back on sugary things but eating normal (which i seem to be ok with) i did have abit of cake though this afternoon

When you go for your GTT eat normal for a few days, as they usually advice for the GTT in pregnancy i think it gives more accurate results (though if you were to be full blown diabetic then i doubt it would make a difference)

I hope i helped abit but if you need any more advice i will help where i can xxx


Helen i'm so excited for you!! I can't believe its tomorrow already it doesn't seem 5 minutes since you were around 24 weeks pregnant you said it was ages away! good luck i'l be thinking of you

thanks hb
I'm actually eating similar to when pregnant as I feel so rubbish at the moment with healing down below - stiches grr! and sleep depro and cold that i don't want to throw unstable sugars inot the mix too. but when i had a bowl of cereal (shreddies) I tested 4 hours later and they were 6.6 - so i felt that was high for premeal. But i do have bad cold and know can make worse. so going to stick to diabetic ish diet until as you say few days before gtt and take from there. I have feeling i'm prediabetic as my numbers are slightly higher than when pregnant (though obviously not taking metfromin now).
grrrr it's a pian in the bum!!! I really thought it would all be done and dusted with not dragging on but not going to worry - I'll just wait 4 more weeks and take from there.
thanks so much for advice xxxxxxxxxxxx
ps numbers have been around 5.1-5.4 morning fasting and around high 6s after meals but this is on diabetic diet.
big hugs xxxxx

 

[mom of 7]

I HAD MY BABY!!! YIPPEEEEE!!! I GOT MY VBAC!

Just brought her home so first chance to log on. I have a beautiful baby girl called Holly Grace. 7lb10z at 38+5. I was booked in for a c-section for this morning and yeah I avoided it - had her totally naturally!!!
Wasn't allowed induction but was given three stretch and sweeps. the first was on wed last week and started contracting that afternoon, then contractions went. Few on thurs then second sweep on friday and they started again - nearly went in friday night, got v. excited and then they stopped again. Few on saturday but not many then lots on sunday morning and went into delivery only to be told I was only 3cm and they weren't strong enough and would most likely not deliver before c-section and sent home - a very low moment. But they gave me another sweep before I went home. Ended going back in that night because my waters went but got sent home again as contractions weren't 'strong enough' but as waters gone they had to deliver within 24hours via c-section if I'd not gone into labour. So they brought me in on Monday morning at 9am for monitoring and to be taken up by tuesday for section. Well I ended up doing 90% of my labour on the monitoring ward in the room with all the other inductions. awkward as some women desperatly wanting to contract and their inductions to be successful and I'm there contracting with them getting thicker. I never really believed my contractions were going to carry on - so even though I knew I was in labour just never believed I was going to beat the c-section clock. They did no vaginal exams. I just had hubbie and doula helping me - i don't think the staff realised I was that progressed. Then all of a sudden I needed the loo and went on all fours and screamed I needed to push - this was 4.30 ish (my contractions began in earnest at 9am). My husband ran to get a midwife and I was told they were all busy on labour ward - funny they soon managed to find one, they examined me and I was told I was 6-7cm and the head was bearing down. they got me in a wheelchair and took me to delivery room - where the midwife ended up being one of my old best freinds from school (this was her first ever delivery as a graduate - v bizarre and wonderful). I delivered one hour later at 5.27pm on Monday. I'd survived my full labour on tens on the ward and pushed her out with gas and air. It was v. painful but I never realised or ever believed fully I wouldn't be taken off to theatre because of my previous section and all the doctors telling me that was what would probably happen.
Holly is beautiful - has had no problem with any sugars and I wasn't monitored at all in labour on a diabetic protocol - they didn't start that until i was in the delivery room, as like I said I was left - but that was the best thing for me in the end.
Moments after she born - the olympic torch went passed my hospital window as it was in my city. I was stood there with my little girl in my arms - watching it go by having had a blissful shower and feeling the BEST EVER! We gave her the middle name 'Grace' becasue after a GD pregnancy and being told I would never have a vaginal birth - the chances were so slim of delivering naturally at 38 weeks without any induction drugs - but I did - so that is Grace to me.
I love her she is beautiful and ladies after a hard horrid 9 months that feels like forever, the moment you have them in your arms you will feel like you can't even remember the hard days of GD so hang in there.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Congratulations Marley!!!

 

[mom of 7]

Hi Ladies
Having a rough week and have no faith left in my dr. Currently I am 36weeks 5 days, saw the diabetes nurse on Tuesday and she was glad to hear that my sugar levels had evened out. Having difficulties keeping my numbers up now but she says that in her experience most women have this happen about a week before going into labour but with my history in this pregnancy she does not know what to expect from me. Saw my dr the next day and was expecting him to check to see if I was progressing and discuss induction.
I have been having
contractions irregularly for 3 weeks now with 2 trips to the hospital for monitoring
lots of pelvic pressure and back ache
ultrasound May 12 measure baby at 2.5 weeks bigger and the placenta was already starting to deteriate
ultrasound June 18th measured baby at 3 weeks bigger than dates
contractions have increased in intensity over last 4 days but tapper off at times coming back stronger
nausea
lost parts of my plug over the past 3 weeks and a larger portion March 24th
swelling
I have only gained a total of 5lbs in this pregnancy and lost 2lbs in last month even with all the swelling. My family keeps commenting on how much weight I have lost since becoming pregnant.

The dr did nothing but a group b swab, listen to bb heart, and measure my belly which has expanded 4cm in 5 days (still I lost .5lb in those 5 days). I am sure he did not want to hear about what was happening with me and was going on about how he was leaving on holidays again for 4 days after only just returning from a 2 week holiday 5 days ago. I am so frustrated as the doctors that we had at the hospital seemed to be very concerned about what was happening and wanted me monitored and persumed I would be monitored much more closely with my history for very quick deliveries and the size of the baby but of course my doctor said "I don't care about that" and he did not even ask how my sugar levels had been or about the contractions. I was so upset by his attitude I never offered any information once he did not do the examination he had said he would do the week prior. He also informed me that he would not even think of inducing me until the middle of August 2-3 weeks after my due date and if the baby is to big to deliver at that time he will discuss a c-section at that time. I left his office and barely made it to my truck before bursting into tears. I cried nearly 2 hours so frustrated that I had him for a dr and knowing in a small town how hard it will be to get another dr. I can only hope that I will deliver while he is having his holiday.

I have been doing a lot of research and I am fairly certain that it is not safe to go over in pregnancy when you have gestational diabetes and the placenta is deteriating or the baby is showing to be large. The ultrasound tech also mentioned several times how large the head was already and kept asking me if I was sure of my due date. Very sure of my due date and the large head is freaking me out a little as is the chance of baby being stillborn. DH is not helping much as he is does not know what to say any more and had to go back to work for another 5 days so he is feeling very helpless, does not like my dr and is scared he will be asked to make a choice between baby and me when we finally go into delivery(my last delivery I was preeclamptic and they were not sure if I would make it). I am sure his dreams are far stranger than mine.
Sorry for the long post... having a rough week ...

 

[madmae]

Hey ladies. Thanks to my pc breaking I have only just managed to get back on here since getting out of hospital. I have posted my rather long birth story https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/birth-stories-announcements/1090713-finleys-birth-story-not-quite-we-expected.html#post19580767

I shall do some reading later and try and catch up with you all.

 

[babies7777]

Hi all,

I was having my home birth assessment this morning an when the student midwife checked my urine she said it was borderline ++ glucose. I had just eaten a pack of dried apricots (for the iron) an was drinking ribena squash. The midwife immediately said i had to have the gtt test (long one) whatever that means. I am booked for it next week but just had a couple of questions if anyone can help me please.

Should you be having symptoms by now in pregnancy if u have gd? my baby is measuring within the normal range, one week ahead, tho that varies depending on who measures me, some say its right for my dates. No thirst issues etc. The only thing i do have is anemia treated with extra iron.

Can you take lucozade to the appointment rather than drink the drink they provide? i have heard its horrible an worried about throwing it back as my gag reflex is bad!

How long till u get the results?

If u do have it can u not have a water birth? or home birth?


Thanks for any help.

 

[tracy143]

Hi ladies! I had my little miracle last Thursday, July 5th at 6:22pm. She weighed 7 pounds 7.2 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is the most precious baby ever!

I went in at 8 am that day for induction and was put on pitocin around 10am. At 2pm I was 1.5 cm dilated so doctor broke my water. Contractions started coming hard and intense so I received an epidural around 3:30pm. By 6pm I was ready to push and after three pushes Anneliese was born I'll post a pic of her as soon as I figure out how to do so from my phone. Anna's sugars were perfect after delivery. I hope all you lovely ladies are doing well!!

 

[izzy29]

Big congrats Tracy, that is brilliant news x

 

[sweet83]

congrats tracey

 

[amyrose2]

Ladies are any if you having bad sideaffects to metformin I started it yesterday and I feel awful! I have been given 2 weeks before they decide weather I need insulin or not x

 

[marley79]

Well done tracy - so pleased it all went well and the little darling is here. massive congrats - its been lovely sharing your journey. enjoy your Lo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[izzy29]

Ladies are any if you having bad sideaffects to metformin I started it yesterday and I feel awful! I have been given 2 weeks before they decide weather I need insulin or not x

What sort of side effects are u having? Is it lowering your numbers? Are u taking it with food? What strength are u on? I have been taking it for about 7 weeks now. Chemist gave me a different brand last time, prob exactly the same but I know some people like to stick to the same brand. I have been feeling so exhausted and as if my legs and arms are made of lead. That feeling doesn't clear until about this time. It's maybe just being pregnant though. Back at endo on we'd so gonna mention then.

 

[MKHewson]

So ladies, I am a member of this group now, was diagnosed with GD tried in vain with diet to reduce sugars, failed. So now I am on insulin. I was sad at first, have to switch from midwife care who I loved to OBGYN. I decided to be thankful I know and I can be treated ..anything to keep my LO safe.