gestational diabetes

Hi! I had GD with my 2nd baby. I didn't have a single risk factor for it so it was a shocker to me. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to sway the results of the 3 hr test in any direction. The test is to see how your body metabolizes sugars, not to see what your current sugar level is, and you can't really control that. Pregnancy hormones can change how you metabolize, and it's just something that happens without your control, and is not something you are responsible for causing or preventing. Plus, even if you COULD mask the results somehow, would you really want to do that to baby? It's much better to know one way or the other so you know how to keep you and baby healthy.

I had to re-do the 3 hour test because I threw up the stuff 2 hours into it. That was the worst! Having sugar free gum and distractions the second time around (laptop with a movie) made the 2nd time much better. In the end, I just barely failed the test.

Don't worry about throwing out all of the candy in the house. I was worried that meant I could have NO sugar but it was exactly the opposite. I learned that with GD you are REQUIRED to have a certain amount of sugar certain times of the day...you just have to keep it within a certain range. If you can control your levels with diet alone, there is no need for insulin shots. I never needed any shots. It's a nuisance more than anything, having to count your carbs, prick your finger, etc. I hate needles and have a history of passing out from them!! But, the finger pricks were really not that bad, even for me. All the time I'd remind myself, it's all for baby's health and it was not so bad.

Anyway, don't worry about it too much right now! Many moms fail the first test and pass the second one no problem. No sense worrying until you finish the test. And if you fail it, feel free to email me! I can give you lots of advice! I'm planning to blog about GD soon too on my IDMommy.com blog. Stay tuned. ;-)

In the end everything went just fine for me. Baby turned out a normal size, 7 lbs 11 oz...smaller than his big brother even. I gained 15 pounds LESS weight during this pregnancy than my first, and I was within a normal weight gain the first time. Luckily, GD goes away after baby is born, and hey, even if you have it, it's only 10 weeks or so out of your life, and you can do ANYTHING for just 10 weeks!! ;-)

Gretchen...brilliant advice. Most people think that you would have to take out sugars from your diet....so wrong. Your body needs energy especially at this time. GD is more commen than people think.
Try asking about what type of sugars are best for you and your baby. Sugars come in many forms. From pure sugar, fructose in fruits and maltose in breads.
Hormones play such an important part particularly in the first trimester. Just be yourself have the test and take the advise. It's important to be truthful for your's and baby's health to get the best of an assesment. The condition isn't your fault so their is no blame attached. It just happens. Some people just have a metabolic rate that makes them more suseptable.
It's like Gretchen says it is for a short time and there are people with answers for you to go to.
Good luck and {{hugs}}

Thanks for your words of encouragement Gretchen! I was convinced I had caused this by eating too many sweets, my doctor even warned me in the beginning to lay off the candy, but when a pregnancy craving hits, I just eat it without thinking.. and I mostly crave candy and chocolate. I really didnt think much of it until I read up on gestational diabetes.

I read that it increases the chance of childhood obesity.-both of us are at risk of developing type 2 diabeties later in life. Also that the baby could grow larger than its supposed to, requiring me to have a c-section! Thats the part that scares me the most, and the needles of course lol

This is my 2nd baby too, diabeties runs in my family so I should know better than to be eating candy. Can't help but feel guilty It makes sence about what you said, not being able to change the test results.. my first test I ate 2 eggs and a dry peice of whole wheat toast that morning.. so I was shocked to hear that my sugars were high. I was hoping if I started eating better and maybe walking more (excersize) that I could somehow reverse the damage and get back to healthy blood sugar levels. Still I guess it dosen't hurt to try. I just don't know what I should be eating, everything seems to have a ton of sugar in it

I hope if I have to do the finger pricks, I am brave like you.. the thought of it makes me want to vomit.

I will check out your blog, and thanks for taking the time to respond! I feel a little better now, I will have the 2nd test next week, so I will let you know how it goes. And I will make sure I bring something to keep me entertained.. 3 hours.. oh brother.. sounds like fun! LOL

Thanks Sheila.. I guess I should stop feeling so guilty. I just read all the bad stuff that comes from gestational diabetes and thought.. oh goodness what have I done to my baby! I will cut down on the sweets tho.. im sure eating candy like I have can't be good either way

I worked in a maternity unit when nursing and GD was something we saw on a daily basis. The good thing is that it has been detected so something can be done to help you. Ask questions, ask to see a dietician for advice if you feel unsure. If you have information then it is easier to make choices.
I've recently been diagnosed with a degenerative condition which may affect many parts of my life....you can bet I'm finding out what I can about it. Steer clear of wikapedia though as I found that some people just like to put the worst horror stories on there. Try to find information from trusted groups. I use NHS direct. I will see if I can find a link...........



......Found the link. NHS direct give straightforward information with just the facts. I don't know where in the world you live so treatments may vary from those in England.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/Pages/Introduction.aspx

LOL, that's the first place I looked for info was wiki! Unbelieveable that some people would deliberately put horror stories to scare people. Same thing happened with my 1st child. I had 2 vessels in my cord insted of 3 (not sure what the condition was called) but the doc did not inform me of what it was all about so I looked it up.. first thing that popped up in my search was downsyndrome.. ya, I cried for a week straight. I have the healthiest kid ever..shes been sick 2 times (shes nearly 4 now).. and once was because of the darn 18 month shots.

thx for the link I will check it out, im in Canada

I'm so glad I was inspired to tell you to avoid wikipedia. I read about my condition on there and it had me worrying about having to have my arm amputated and being in a wheel chair!!! I'm a qualified nurse and was shocked at the way things were written there.
NHS direct is a national database for the UK hospitals to give information to patients. Each condition has been well documented and has links to RELEVANT pages.
Things will differ in treatment as you are in Canada. There will be different groups of people involved in care and some will be with midwife or MD. The general info is the same though. Good luck

Thanks Sheila! I was just reading through the site you sent me.. I have some intresting questions for my doctor now.
looks like maybe I have had diabeties all along! A few years ago I complained about sudden intense hunger, being very thirsty and urinating a lot. He said that it's probably hyperglycaemia and not to worry about it, to just drink a glass of orange juice when I had those symptoms and it would go away. The link you sent me says that this usually only happens in people with diabetes!!
Anyways, thanks for all the help, much appreciated!

There are family links with diabetes so things might not be all good news but at least you will know what you are dealing with. Let me know how you get on with the tests and I wish you all the best