Gestational Diabetes and subsequent pregnancies - was there a point it got tough?

[AmeliePoulain]

I am expecting my 2nd baby after being diagnosed with GD very late on with my daughter but managing to do diet control until she was born with no complications from the GD and weighing 6lb 7oz.

In this pregnancy I have been conscious of my sugars from the beginning and got really strict at about 16 weeks but my fasting sugars started going wonky at 20 weeks so I referred myself to the hospital (I had refused a GTT and self monitored until that point)

The past 4 weeks have gone well and I am doing fine with pre and post meal readings. I am having to be pretty strict but it is fine and I am coping.

I am scared that there is going to be a point - like a magic number like 28 weeks - where it is going to get incredibly difficult though. There are a lot of things I want re. the birth but I can't bring myself to think about it if the chances are I am going to need medication.

Any experiences from 2nd, 3rd + GD Mums???

 

[daisy72]

I am in the same situation. It would be really cool to avoid medication this time, too, not because I am afraid of pills or injections, but because those are two different stories in terms of labor protocols, unfortunately. With just diet-controlled GD they let me go full term with my daughter (she turned to be a 7 lbs baby). I looked through my BS logs of that pregnancy, and the levels were actually even since I was diagnosed at 24 weeks. So I hope it will be the same this time (wishful thinking ). I am only praying for the fasting numbers to remain as they are now, as the rest can be controlled with exercise, at least in my case.

 

[AmeliePoulain]

My numbers are similar to how I was with my daughter when I was diagnosed at 36 weeks.

I am having this baby at a different hospital (we have moved area) and they have said they will let me go to term if I am diet controlled. I am absolutely desperate for that to happen but scared of setting my heart on it if it isnt likely.

I was so upset with the GD returned because I thought maybe it was all a mistake last time - with the late diagnosis, my daughter being small and no other GD issues. I also have no risk factors (I am 26, weighed 115lbs before pregnancy, no family history etc)

I just want to be mentally prepared if in all likelihood it is going to get really difficult at some point soon

 

[daisy72]

Do you have to "work out" your carbs after meals or you just stick to the certain amount of carbs per meal and it is enough? Just curious... and what are your fasting numbers?

 

[AmeliePoulain]

Do you have to "work out" your carbs after meals or you just stick to the certain amount of carbs per meal and it is enough? Just curious... and what are your fasting numbers?

To be honest I havent had to do any real strict planning with carbs. I just really reduced them down and since I have been monitoring I tried different things to see how I get on.

I seem to do really well with oat based things, not so great with wheat and then potatoes are completely impossible for me.

When my fasting numbers we a bit odd around 20 weeks I was getting 5's in the morning and the occasional 6 before meals. Now I have swapped my main meal to lunch and am being much much more strict my fasting numbers have returned to normal for me which is anything from mid 3s to 4s.

I think since I have been pushing my body less by doing the diet strictly it is like I am tolerating other things better than I was before

 

[daisy72]

Do you have to "work out" your carbs after meals or you just stick to the certain amount of carbs per meal and it is enough? Just curious... and what are your fasting numbers?

Now I have swapped my main meal to lunch and am being much much more strict my fasting numbers have returned to normal for me which is anything from mid 3s to 4s.

Wow, mid 3s means 63 in units that we use here in the US... Not sure if I ever saw such a digit on my meter . I feel lucky if I get anything below 85 (=4.7) in the morning... I think you don't have to worry about medication, as you are doing amazingly well and still have a lot of room in the normal range!

 

[AmeliePoulain]

It is normal for me when not pregnant to get such low readings, my sugars tend to go through the roof and then really crash. It makes me feel quite yucky sometimes