GD support thread

[HellBunny]

Congrats Chellngaz! She is beautiful x

 

[sarahgx4]

Well ladies after being told my waters could be broken on tuesday evening I got to delivery suite on Thursday at 10.40am. I was in established labour from 6.30pm and fully dilated at 5.50am (friday). They gave me 2 hours for her to desend and started psuhing at 8am. I've never worked so hard in my life but nowt happening so off to theatre it was for me. Poppy May arrived1/6/12 at 10.50am weighing 8lb 5oz not a bad size for term plus 3 x x

She is adorable. Congratssss

 

[Bats11]

Hi all, today i had an appt with GD nurse & she has asked me to start expressing my breasts twice a day & put the colostrum into syringes, freeze them & bring them 2 hospital when in labour, because women with GD can have a delay with milk, so when bubs is born they'll test her sugar levels, then she needs a feed & two hrs after that they'll test her sugar again.

Im just worried it will bring on labour, anyone else been asked to do the same?

 

[marley79]

Hi all, today i had an appt with GD nurse & she has asked me to start pumping my breasts twice a day & put the cholostrum into syringes, freeze them & bring them 2 hospital when in labour, because women with GD can have a delay with milk, so when bubs is born they'll test her sugar levels, then she needs a feed & two hrs after that they'll test her sugar again.

Im just worried it will bring on labour, anyone else been asked to do the same?

hey bats. we are just a day apart. I'm 36+6 today and yes i am doing the same. i posted about it couple pages ago if you wanna read - but basically I am doing the same thing. I was told 36 weeks fine to start - and is highly unlikely to bring on labour (just think women breastfeed their eldest throughout pregnancy). what it can do is help the head engage due to stimulating mild uterine contractions. I've had a couple of gos - gosh its hard work getting much out but am seeing the hosital's feeding co-ordinator tommorrow and she is giving me all the syringes and labels and wants me to do it three times a day until I have the baby. I'm actually hoping it does help bring on labour in some way. xxx what day are you due to have baby? I'm hoping to have bubs naturally next two weeks if not two weeks wed - when I'm 39 weeks then c-sec.

 

[Bats11]

Hi all, today i had an appt with GD nurse & she has asked me to start pumping my breasts twice a day & put the cholostrum into syringes, freeze them & bring them 2 hospital when in labour, because women with GD can have a delay with milk, so when bubs is born they'll test her sugar levels, then she needs a feed & two hrs after that they'll test her sugar again.

Im just worried it will bring on labour, anyone else been asked to do the same?

hey bats. we are just a day apart. I'm 36+6 today and yes i am doing the same. i posted about it couple pages ago if you wanna read - but basically I am doing the same thing. I was told 36 weeks fine to start - and is highly unlikely to bring on labour (just think women breastfeed their eldest throughout pregnancy). what it can do is help the head engage due to stimulating mild uterine contractions. I've had a couple of gos - gosh its hard work getting much out but am seeing the hosital's feeding co-ordinator tommorrow and she is giving me all the syringes and labels and wants me to do it three times a day until I have the baby. I'm actually hoping it does help bring on labour in some way. xxx what day are you due to have baby? I'm hoping to have bubs naturally next two weeks if not two weeks wed - when I'm 39 weeks then c-sec.

Thanks for that Marley, gosh i tried this evening, there's no way i could get enough out to put into a syringe & tbh it started to give me anxiety so i didnt want to continue.

Im due on the 28th! Im going to call my naturopath tomorrow & ask her to make something up for me to help stimulate breast milk production.

 

[Bats11]

I had a cry tonight im feeling really scared about giving birth i cant say giving birth has been good experiences for me, im really hoping to get the epidural this time & im really hoping that i can say how wonderful it was as this is my last baby.

 

[midori1999]

I don't usually post on this thread anymore as my daughter is 11 1/2 months now. However, I popped on and noticed the threads about colostrum harveting, so thought I'd reply.

You need very small sterile syringes for colostrum harvesting, preferably 1ml and they are hard to get unless your hospital will give them to you. It is also quite hard to get any/much colostrum out, usually only a drop or two at first, so don't worry if it's not much.

I did have colostrum stored in my freezer, but didn't need it. my GD was pretty severe, I was insulin controlled from 25 weeks, still got pretty high glucose readings as often couldn't increase my insulin fast enough, but I didn't have any problems with my milk coming in, from what I gather, it's not common. I was supposed to be on a glucose/insulin drip during labour, but they never did it. I fed my daughter about an horu after her birth for the first time, she came out screaming and stayed that way until then, and then really pushed for them to do her blood sugar so I could feed again and then insisted that I was just going to feed on demand. Her second blood sugar was borderline, but frequent feeding brought it back up.

I would suggest as much skin to skin as possible post birth and request they do not take your baby for weighing until you have fed (skin to skin helps regulate blood sugars) and feed as often as you can. If they ask you not to feed so they can check blood sugars, you can refuse (I did!) because what is the point? If feeding keeps their blood sugars up then that's the point, surely? No point in letting it drop just so they can test it!

 

[Doodar]

Congrats chellngaz, beautiful

Well what a rollercoaster of a weekend I've had, just awful. Had to make the harrowing decision to have my beautiful furbaby put to sleep. The devastation has been unreal. I spent sun and mon just non stop crying and yesterday just didn't want to do or be a part of anything, I just wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone. I even contemplated asking them to postpone the c-section because I just wasn't in the right frame of mind, but hubby was very against it and he said we have waited 3 years for this let's try and not make anything spoil it. I know he is right but it's still very hard, he was my best friend and I just feel so empty, I just expected him to be there and be a part of this baby's life. Anyway today I'm feeling a bit more human like and I'm desperatly trying to put my emotions to one side for the baby's sake.

Bloods have been all over the place this weekend, can't believe I'm going in hospital tonight! Scared, nervous, anxious, excited. So many different emotions going on right now.

Bats I've tried expressing but I've had no joy at all.

 

[Bats11]

Midori - thank you, that is so comforting to know, im so glad you did respond with a positive experience x

Doodar - im so sorry about your furbaby, hope you feel better soon, all the very best with your c-section x

 

[tracy143]

Congrats chellngaz, beautiful

Well what a rollercoaster of a weekend I've had, just awful. Had to make the harrowing decision to have my beautiful furbaby put to sleep. The devastation has been unreal. I spent sun and mon just non stop crying and yesterday just didn't want to do or be a part of anything, I just wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone. I even contemplated asking them to postpone the c-section because I just wasn't in the right frame of mind, but hubby was very against it and he said we have waited 3 years for this let's try and not make anything spoil it. I know he is right but it's still very hard, he was my best friend and I just feel so empty, I just expected him to be there and be a part of this baby's life. Anyway today I'm feeling a bit more human like and I'm desperatly trying to put my emotions to one side for the baby's sake.

Bloods have been all over the place this weekend, can't believe I'm going in hospital tonight! Scared, nervous, anxious, excited. So many different emotions going on right now.

Bats I've tried expressing but I've had no joy at all.

Doodar, I am so sorry you had such a bad weekend. I would be devastated, too. I hope everything goes well today and that you and LO are healthy!

Bats, I pray that you have a wonderful labor experience and that you will look back on that day as one of the most magical in your life.

Chell, she is a beauty. Congrats!!

I had my growth scan on Friday. I was 34 weeks 2 days. LO is measuring 34 weeks 3 days and weighs 5.5 lbs (give or take 13 ozs from what the tech said). My sugars have been going haywire this past weekend so it might be time to increase my Met. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so we'll see what he says.

I hope all you lovely ladies are doing well!!

 

[midori1999]

USEFUL INFO FOR ALL ... HYPOGLYCEMIC PROTOCOL FOR NEWBORNS & FEEDING OWN MILK......

So I rang my local hospital today and asked to speak to the infant feeding co-ordinator and told her I wanted to start expresisng colostrum now for my baby. She was amazingly supportive - I have a meeting with her for wed, when she will give me all the syringes, stoppers, bags and labels. This is what she told me on phone:

I can start expressing my colostrum from 36 weeks (now) though she checked no history of preterm birth. Said would be v unlikely it would put you into labour but could cause mild uterine contractions which could help get baby's head further down.

To express by hand 3 times a day into a syringe with stopper and put in fridge. Take out fridge for next collection then when all three expressions done for that day - date and label and put in freezer. When I go into hospital I take all syringes in a tupperware box with name, hosp number etc and it will be stored in fridge if in labour and freezer if not.

When baby is born blood sugars should be tested by heel prick asap even if they appear well. AI should breastfeed asap but defo within one hour. As soon as I finsih first feed, the clock is set and in 3hours baby should have their first 'pre-feed' blood check. Their bloods should be above 2mmol. If it is below baby should be immediately fed again from breast if well enough. If baby sleepy and no energy then this when the stored colostrum syringes come out. If bloods don't come back up then this is when supplemetnal forumla would be given and this should be 7-10mls/kilo of body weight.
So to summarise baby should be fed every three hours and bloods done just before each feed and should be above 2. This should be done for 24hours including temperature and respiratory checks. If all bloods ok then the next 24hours bloods don't need to be checked but temp and respiration should be checked every three hours. If all good then free to go :0)
If sugars drop below 2 and no supplement seems to bring up then off to neo-natal and that is when a glucose drip would be used until sugars stabilised.

So this is policy at my hospital. i would urge everyone to ring and ask what their hospital hypoglcemic policy is and make sure they do it. I had my little girl last feb (GD baby). She was born at 10am and they didn't start the protocol until 11pm that night!! I have been told this was an error - luckily she was fine but I know now to demand that it is being done. I have the feeding co-ordinator's name and she has told me to write my wishes in birthing plan and demand protocol started straight away.

If anyone wants to print off or copy and paste this - it could be useful for when your time comes. Obviously if you are planning to forumla it may be a little different so would double check.

I just wanted to add that this was pretty much policy at my hospital too, but had I left my daughter for three hours in between feeds (not ideal if you are trying to establish BF anyway!) then there's no doubt she would have become hypo.

Feeding a BF baby 3 horuly is not condusive to getting BF established at all. I am personally very glad I pretty much told the hospital to stuff it.

Also, you can push for donor milk if you don't want to give formula.

 

[madmae]

Congrats chellngaz, beautiful

Well what a rollercoaster of a weekend I've had, just awful. Had to make the harrowing decision to have my beautiful furbaby put to sleep. The devastation has been unreal. I spent sun and mon just non stop crying and yesterday just didn't want to do or be a part of anything, I just wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone. I even contemplated asking them to postpone the c-section because I just wasn't in the right frame of mind, but hubby was very against it and he said we have waited 3 years for this let's try and not make anything spoil it. I know he is right but it's still very hard, he was my best friend and I just feel so empty, I just expected him to be there and be a part of this baby's life. Anyway today I'm feeling a bit more human like and I'm desperatly trying to put my emotions to one side for the baby's sake.

Bloods have been all over the place this weekend, can't believe I'm going in hospital tonight! Scared, nervous, anxious, excited. So many different emotions going on right now.

Bats I've tried expressing but I've had no joy at all.

I'm so sorry you lost your precious furbaby I think you made the right decision going ahead with the c section.

My bloods have started off going high again......I am grateful for a week or so of stable numbers so its time to start increasing the insulin again.

I had an ante natal appt today at the local hospital.....bp creeping up...fundal height measuring 36 weeks and she thinks have SPD....and he's still breech.

After that we had to go to Asda where I had 2 people make the comments about how big I am....the're shocked when I tell them I am really due 20th July....must admit my bump is massive now....hubby is now telling people we're seeing how big I get before I pop....well you gotta laugh. I get the inevitable question...are you sure there's only 1 in there....I do say after 7/8 scans we're pretty sure he's all alone.

 

[marley79]

Midori - thanks for your help on the colostrum harvesting. I see the lactation specialist at hosp tomorrow and then I'm going to start with it. It's nice of you to offer some advice. Fingers crossed I get more than a few measly drops :0)

Bats - Hope you feel better about things. It's tough - understand the whole anxiety and with regards to the colostrum if maybe you tell yourself a few drops is fine - it's still getting your body ready then maybe it will take the pressure off. I found hand expression in the shower - back to the water obviously is when I seem to get the most - though I've only been doing a few tweaks here and there at present.

Doodar - I am so sorry to hear about your bad weekend. It's awful when you feel they have been through everything with you. I think it's right decision to go ahead with everything though. I will be thinking of you tonight and tomorrow and wish you all the best - can't wait to see some pics.

Madmae - sorry you're not comfy either. as for people in asda. I think the best reply has to be 'what do you mean I look pregnant - I've been trying so hard to loose weight'! I would love to say this to people - the following social embaressment would teach them from commenting on how big we look. Even a mw asked me at clinic the other day if I was sure there weren't two - charming, especially as she had my notes!


it seems like quite a few of us are experiencing sudden highs. My bloods have gone up really high - some premeals of 7s when they have been in the 4 and 5s. I'm really upset about it as I know the last couple of weeks are the most important and it was just a week ago I was worrying why they had gone low. My diabetic meeting was cancelled as should be today (grrr jubilee) so I see consultant tomorrow but non of diabetic team will be there, so bit frustrated with that. feeling fed up. I'm trying so hard to naturally induce this baby but not sure what else I can try. Just hope my stretch and sweep a week on wed works. I even tried feeling my cervix out of desperation to see if it was feeling 'ready' -Couldn't even find it - so not a great start (lol!).

 

[mammytoerin]

Hi!! I'm just looking for some advice, really.

I'm Laura, and we're due with our second baby on the 23rd of November. I had my 12 week scan on the 14th of May, and I was told today that my 'papp a hormone' levels are low (0.29). This could result in the baby having a low birth weight, and may lead to other issues (although I'm assured the risks are low).

Has anyone had any experience of this? I will be getting a scan every 4 weeks so that the growth of our baby can be monitored closely. My pregnancy has been moved from low risk to medium risk :S

Thank you very much!! This group is a great idea by the way I wish everyone the best of luck. All our love xxxx

 

[marley79]

Hi!! I'm just looking for some advice, really.

I'm Laura, and we're due with our second baby on the 23rd of November. I had my 12 week scan on the 14th of May, and I was told today that my 'papp a hormone' levels are low (0.29). This could result in the baby having a low birth weight, and may lead to other issues (although I'm assured the risks are low).

Has anyone had any experience of this? I will be getting a scan every 4 weeks so that the growth of our baby can be monitored closely. My pregnancy has been moved from low risk to medium risk :S

Thank you very much!! This group is a great idea by the way I wish everyone the best of luck. All our love xxxx

I'm sorry don't know anything about that - have u tried posted generally in gestational complications and also in all the trimesters. Hope you get some answers. Wish you well. x

 

[Doodar]

Hi all well I'm settled at the hospital, really don't understand why I've been brought in the night before, no sliding scale until 6am what's the point. Anyway I've got cannulas in ready coz I begged them to get it done with I hate them so much, got two of the buggers in. Just had tea and toast and testing bloods in one hour. Then insulin and glucose at 6am then she said I should be first on theatre list with having GD. Still all feels so surreal can't believe in 9 hours we'll have our baby.

Mammytoerin I had low Papp-a 0.24 it can be associated with placenta problems later in pregnancy as long as they scan you regular and do Doppler flow regular you should be ok. Also some studies have shown that it could be linked to GD too. Make sure you push for those scans.

So next time I speak to you guys I'll have a baby wow!! Can't believe it. Speak soon. 3G reception is rubbish here.

 

[Bats11]

Doodar - how exciting all the very best, you get to hold your little bundle of joy so soon! I also hate when they need to put in cannulars they hurt.

Marley - Thanks for that I will try after my shower tonight, Im just really hoping that I dont have issues with my colostrum and milk when my baby is born.

 

[Bats11]

USEFUL INFO FOR ALL ... HYPOGLYCEMIC PROTOCOL FOR NEWBORNS & FEEDING OWN MILK......

So I rang my local hospital today and asked to speak to the infant feeding co-ordinator and told her I wanted to start expresisng colostrum now for my baby. She was amazingly supportive - I have a meeting with her for wed, when she will give me all the syringes, stoppers, bags and labels. This is what she told me on phone:

I can start expressing my colostrum from 36 weeks (now) though she checked no history of preterm birth. Said would be v unlikely it would put you into labour but could cause mild uterine contractions which could help get baby's head further down.

To express by hand 3 times a day into a syringe with stopper and put in fridge. Take out fridge for next collection then when all three expressions done for that day - date and label and put in freezer. When I go into hospital I take all syringes in a tupperware box with name, hosp number etc and it will be stored in fridge if in labour and freezer if not.

When baby is born blood sugars should be tested by heel prick asap even if they appear well. AI should breastfeed asap but defo within one hour. As soon as I finsih first feed, the clock is set and in 3hours baby should have their first 'pre-feed' blood check. Their bloods should be above 2mmol. If it is below baby should be immediately fed again from breast if well enough. If baby sleepy and no energy then this when the stored colostrum syringes come out. If bloods don't come back up then this is when supplemetnal forumla would be given and this should be 7-10mls/kilo of body weight.
So to summarise baby should be fed every three hours and bloods done just before each feed and should be above 2. This should be done for 24hours including temperature and respiratory checks. If all bloods ok then the next 24hours bloods don't need to be checked but temp and respiration should be checked every three hours. If all good then free to go :0)
If sugars drop below 2 and no supplement seems to bring up then off to neo-natal and that is when a glucose drip would be used until sugars stabilised.

So this is policy at my hospital. i would urge everyone to ring and ask what their hospital hypoglcemic policy is and make sure they do it. I had my little girl last feb (GD baby). She was born at 10am and they didn't start the protocol until 11pm that night!! I have been told this was an error - luckily she was fine but I know now to demand that it is being done. I have the feeding co-ordinator's name and she has told me to write my wishes in birthing plan and demand protocol started straight away.

If anyone wants to print off or copy and paste this - it could be useful for when your time comes. Obviously if you are planning to forumla it may be a little different so would double check.

I just wanted to add that this was pretty much policy at my hospital too, but had I left my daughter for three hours in between feeds (not ideal if you are trying to establish BF anyway!) then there's no doubt she would have become hypo.

Feeding a BF baby 3 horuly is not condusive to getting BF established at all. I am personally very glad I pretty much told the hospital to stuff it.

Also, you can push for donor milk if you don't want to give formula.

I agree with you, my midwife said to put my baby onto my breast as often as possible when she's born.

 

[Bats11]

Tracy143 - Thanks for that, I really hope so to, I had a dream last night that labour was so great, Im just hoping it wont turn out the opposite! Because in the same dream I delivered a boy! And that part I know for sure is not going to happen

 

[marley79]

Hi all well I'm settled at the hospital, really don't understand why I've been brought in the night before, no sliding scale until 6am what's the point. Anyway I've got cannulas in ready coz I begged them to get it done with I hate them so much, got two of the buggers in. Just had tea and toast and testing bloods in one hour. Then insulin and glucose at 6am then she said I should be first on theatre list with having GD. Still all feels so surreal can't believe in 9 hours we'll have our baby.

Mammytoerin I had low Papp-a 0.24 it can be associated with placenta problems later in pregnancy as long as they scan you regular and do Doppler flow regular you should be ok. Also some studies have shown that it could be linked to GD too. Make sure you push for those scans.

So next time I speak to you guys I'll have a baby wow!! Can't believe it. Speak soon. 3G reception is rubbish here.

crazy they brought you in all night but yeah you get to meet your baby today. Exciting!!!! Can't wait to see you update. ps - i hate cannulas too - i think I'm better on the spinal than them. lol! xxxx