Since it seems to be reasonably common, I thought maybe we could have an ongoing thread where we could discuss issues relating to it, and maybe share ideas of meals that work for us to keep blood sugars down.

I was just over the threshold on my GTT nearly 3 weeks ago, and have been monitoring my bloods 4 times a day since last Thursday. Had my first visit to joint diabetic/obstetric clinic this morning, which I found thoroughly impersonal and demoralising, so am feeling a bit low about it at the moment.

I am nearly 20 weeks, so still have a long way to go. Am hoping to control it just through diet, but consultant gave me a prescription for insulin 'just in case I need it'!

Am having the most problem with my after breakfast reading. Have been told to keep it below 7 one hour after eating, but even with the cereals they have recommended, I am getting around 8-9. Dietician has recommended trying baked beans on toast for breakfast instead. Is anyone else struggling with this one, as they said it is a common one to find raised due to steroids produced by the body in the mornings?

Hiya

I know how you feel with the clinic - we had a horrible consultant at ours (thankfully he isnt my consultant!!) Im 39 weeks now and have sucessfully controlled my GS with diet.

Breakfast - i found that porridge was the only way to go, and have survived off that mainly - mix half water, half milk if still too high, if it does control it add some dried fruit to make it less bland!

also I found bergen bread really nice, gets the seed count in, good for you blah blah and actually tastes nice

your blood needs to be 7 one hour after eating? that seems very soon, I have to get mine 7.5 2 hours after eating. That seems to tally with NHS guidelines too, seriously I would question that. it's very different from my guidelines

quick google just found this site here which says bloods need to be 7 2 hours after, also this site may help.

Hi otter .

Porridge sent me very high (8.5), but I haven't tried making it with water. Tis a pain as dd should really have it with milk, but I'm not making 2 separate lots! Doesn't the dried fruit shoot your levels up?

Thankfully we eat the burgen soya and linseed anyway, so don't need to make any changes there.

I thought they were being a bit tough with the 1 hour thing, but they are adamant that 1 hour gives a better picture during pregnancy, and said that since they are recommending eating little and often, we are likely to be snacking again before the 2 hours would be up!

Great to hear that you've managed to control through diet alone. What have your hospital said about delivery date? Are you allowed to keep going until it happens naturally?

And have you been advised to express colostrum before the birth, or are you not planning to breastfeed?

Hi cantsleepwontsleep just to update you. I rang in my results this morning and they've upped it again. I'm now on 10 units AM and 8 units PM. I have to ring back on Friday with my interim results but she's already thinking about giving me the fast acting insulin as well as the Levemir (slow release) I'm already on.

I'm now at 22 weeks so not sure how things are going to pan out.

Sorry to hear your experience in clinic wasn't too good. I see a range of people when I go: diabetic midwife, consultant, endocrinologist and sometimes I see the dietician but not always. I find the endocrin guy just talks at me and then to his colleagues usually sat with him. I think he thinks I'm a moron But ah well, the rest of them are ok.

There is also a diabetic clinic at the hospital where I am and I've seen the people there to pick up my meter and be shown how to inject etc. They are really nice. Perhaps you have one at yours...they're not as impersonal as the big AN clinic.

I have porridge most mornings but it sounds like you could be giving yourself a bigger portion than you should. I've found that Asda does an instant porridge (it's fine with the dietician) that has a scoop in it. 1 scoop is fine with milk in the microwave. Might be worth getting a measure - don't guess the portion size

hi there i was thinking about you today johnworf you had a feeling they were going to up your insulin didnt you
ive always been told test 2 hrs after to ive always had a higher reading 1 hour after

as jw knows im on insulin 2 18 units twice a day on novomix

currently 30wks

i am just plain not hungery im struggling to eat anything im sick in the mornings like early pregnancy

and we have to eat on insulin to avoid a hypo
i find out on monday how big this little guy is and how long they propose to leave me
last time they said 36/37 wks a few weeks ago but my insulin was only at 8 then

i want a natural birth and i have been told i have to hooked up to iv cos of the diabetes
is this true i dont want to be induced strapped to the bed how horrific can that be
i hate being induced as it is
my baby has a medical condition to its going to be extrememly hard to birth him anyway
all his bones are fused in his skull

is it the size they are worried about why they want to induce early?
last 1 was 9lb 4oz at 36 wks
is there a risk being a diabetic?
will i be on iv (as a precaution)
so many questions
they do not want the BS to go over 10 in labour why not??
hopefully some one can answer these please
ok i shouldnt have googled it but i read theses a risk of babies being stillborn with diabetic mums
not googling again i think

just to say after breakfast and my insulin my BS are usually 12 to 14 too high i know thats on a piece of toast and tea
how can i ask for a elective section hes going to say NO hes like that what are my options

Baked beans were always fine for me - jacket spud with cheese and beans saved me on many occasions. Also wholemeal toast with scrambled egg - another breakfast option for you, maybe?

I couldn't be bothered to find a palatable cereal that didn't spike my blood sugar levels, tbh. Wholemeal toast was my staple breakfast when pg with DS2.

I had GD with DD1 and managed with diet alone. I needed insulin for DD2. Both were elective CSs (other reasons too). I tested all bloods before and at 1 hour after food. I also found the morning levels to be the most difficult to get "right".

I remember your post from a few weeks ago. How do you find the finger pricking?

Hi ladies,

I've been told to test 1 hour after my meal but immediately before I eat. Seems to be some variation on this it appears.

Wholemeal toast and beans/scrambled eggs/jacket pototoes are mainly what I live on! It could be worse I suppose. Left to me it would be chips, chocolate and large packets of Haribo sweets

I've been told that I'll be on insulin the day I give birth (didn't mention IV but hey, it's a while off for me). They've also warned me several times that I am more susceptible to type 2 diabetes in later life now I've had it in pregnancy.

They'll control your BS in labour so that baby isn't born with low BS. (I think it's that way around). They'll also test baby once he/she is born to see what their BS is. My hospital's policy to take babies over 10lbs to SCBU to monitor them.

Not had my sizing scans yet - I'm at 22 weeks and first one is 28 weeks. She looked normal size wise at my scan last week - I asked.

I thought that most diabetic mums to be were offered an elective CS? Mebbe it varies from hospital to hospital?

Here is a link that might be useful.

ChristinaTheAstonishing regarding the finger pricking, the ends of my fingers have become used to it now and I'm getting lovely patches of hard skin there! It doesn't really bother me.

It's my legs that I have a problem with. Sometimes it really hurts when I inject. I think I must go straight in a muscle. I've been told to pinch up when I inject but this just makes it bleed. I can't bring myself to inject into my stomach - not yet anyway. When I run out of leg I might do.

Ladies, any advice on injecting techniques??

Oh btw disneystar I think the size issue is a lot to do with delivering vaginally. They try and avoid large babies getting stuck and having to dislocate shoulders and break arms - yep, it has happened in the past.

JW, are you on insulin now?

I controlled mine by diet throughout my pregnancy (usually successfully, but it took a while to work out what I could eat - white rice was very much Not A Good Idea for instance) - I was told I couldn't use a birthing pool as there was a chance I'd need insulin during the birth, but since I'd controlled it well up till I went into labour, I didn't need it.

I'm sorry you found the clinic upsetting, CSWS - is there the opportunity to feedback about it?

Ah, crossed posts.

I was worried about developing diabetes later in life - I was heartened to see some research suggesting that breastfeeding doesn't just protect babies against developing diabetes, it protects their mothers as well. I'll dig up the link if you're interested?

hunkermunker great on the BF link if you have it. I'm planning to BF but want to discuss my birthing plan at clinic very soon - although I'm having an elective I want to BF asap. Have heard stories of LO being whisked off and bottle fed if not careful

Yes I am on insulin at the mo. Tried diet only first but BS just weren't being controlled. I think anything processed e.g. white rice, is off the menu at the mo for us ladies. I'm just saddened that I can't eat 3 cornettos a day and still keep my BS within range

Here you go

CSWS are you at the same hospital as me this time? i am having a GTT next weekand really not holding out much hope for it coming back as no diabetes.

managed last time with diet alone, but am very nervous this time.

I don't have GD but am worried about getting it. My dad is diabetic and my urine has had sugar in it twice already (I'm 21 weeks). I'm not scheduled for the GTT until 32 weeks -- is that normal? How did so many of you find out you had it so much earlier?

Another thing I'm wondering about -- is is possible to 'give yourself' GD by eating too much sugar in pregnancy or would you have to already be predisposed to getting it for sugar to matter? I know I eat too much of it (sugary cereals every morning, ice cream or chocs as treats on the weekends)and need to cut back anyway, regardless of GD, but I'm wondering if going on a restrictive diet now could prevent me from testing positive on the GTT later or if it won't matter what I eat if I do have it. Does anyone know?

I am planning a homebirth and the thought of a c/s or induction in the hospital is enough to make me feel sick. I will do ANYTHING to avoid that.

amitymama eating sugar has nothing to do with diabetes. It's the placenta hormones blocking the insulin production - I think. Eating less sugar will not affect your GTT results as you fast for 12 hours beforehand anyway. The GTT tests how your body responds to the glucose drink they give you.

I found out at routine clinic visit urine testing. Came back with glucose +++. Then sent for GTT.

hunkermunker thanks for that link. Just had a read but was dismayed by:

"...However, women with gestational diabetes did not appear to lower their risk of type 2 diabetes, even if they breastfed intensely."

I'm still going to BF anyway

Thanks for the link hunker - will take a look later as only have 2 mins before I have to go out!

Amitymama - if you had glucose in your urine then you should be sent for a GTT right away, esp given your family history, as left unchecked GD can be dangerous to the baby. I would ring your mw and ask for one now.

misdee - I'm at Lister. Are you there or it's stately counterpart?

I had basmati rice last nice jw and it was okish . Basmati is better than long grain according to my clinic.

I have already discussed expressing some breastmilk in advance for the baby. Apparently my clinic recommend expressing colostrum from 38 weeks, but since I'm still feeding dd, I have the advantage of being able to build up some extra supplies ahead of the game. There is no way anyone will be feeding this baby formula!

Cristina - I assume the finger prick question was to me. It's actually not too bad at all, thankfully.

Bad news for me is that even beans on toast sent me up to 8.5. Think I'll have to try smaller portions of everything and see if that works better.

Do make sure that they don't test your baby's glucose until 3 hours after the birth, as the readings are likely to be all over the place before that. My mw advised this, and said to make sure that it is included in my birth plan, as well as my instruction not to give formula.

disneystar - sounds like you need a thorough chat about the birth with your mw/consultant. I think it's inevitable that we will get more monitoring than a standard birth though. I shall have to get dh into training to stand up to the midwives for me whilst I'm in labour .

Try scrambled egg on toast, CSWS - beans are quite sugary.

johnworf and CSWS -- thank you for sharing this info with me and helping me learn how GD works. My two positive urine samples were only +, maybe that is why I wasn't rushed in for an early test? I phoned the outpatient clinic where I'm scheduled for GTT at 32 weeks and they changed it to 30 weeks but I'm still eight weeks away from that and know I will worry the entire time.

But so you're saying that diet restrictions won't do any good at this point as it's not about that but how my body processes the sugar, right? I am usually so calm and mellow about pregnancy-related stuff but for some reason this is freaking me out and I feel like I should be doing something to prevent it from happening, you know? Though I know in my head that I can't. I guess I just have to wait the eight weeks and keep my fingers crossed!

AM, if you've a history of diabetes in the family, it's not necessarily a great idea to eat lots and lots of sugar anyway.

Oh, I wouldn't say I eat a lot of sugar (mainly just cereals, lots of fruit and the odd chocolate bar or ice cream here and there) and eat plenty of veg and stuff, but I wasn't sure if I should be cutting out even the odd treat and fruit, stuff like that this is okay for most women.

Fruit is very sugary. Check on your cereals..many puport to be 'healthy' but in fact are loaded with sugar. I've even cut out 'healthy' Bran Flakes as they have quite a bit in them.

As for chocolate and ice cream...hehe

amitymama it's about portion size too. 5 meals the same size (they say a fist is a portion size?) is better than the normal 3 so I'm told.

hello

sorry for delay! Ive has no problems really keeping diet of, fruit does send sugar up but am active in am and exercise (well a walk) does help lower the sugars. seems odd to me that they make you do your blood after an hour but it seems like quite a few people have that?

am going to term (40+3) before they induce me, and they will induce me in same way as 'normal' pregnancy. Consultant said she would prefer baby out then rather than waiting til 40+12 despite all being ok with bloods and baby size.
We will be encouraged to breast feed straight away, as according to medical guidelines that is best for baby. Basically treated as 'normal' because have managed to control blood and baby size (well according to their guess anyway...) blood sugar will be monitored through labour and if goes over 10 I will be put on insulin drip

disneystar - i spoke to my consultant re drip as I didnt want to be stuck on bed, she said that you can still be active (just that you cant run about as much dragging a drip behind you!) there should be no reason that you have to be on your back at all. if you want a c-section talk to your consultant,he'll not definately say no, in fact one of ours was really pushy towards a c-section (and no attenpt at V-birth)

the reason that thwy want to induce is about the size of the baby, if too big baby is higher risk of shoulder dystocia, basically babies shoulders dont enter birth canal as they should, this does complicat matters, also there is a higher risk of still birth BUT you sre being monitored, and if you dont know why/dont agree question. Its more of a precaution. also if you have GD you are lower risk, more serious if you have normal diabeties if not controlled.

you will be put on a drip if your bloods go over 10 in labour because when baby comes out baby will have been working to produce insulin to counteract the sugar you've been providing and it may cause babys blood sugar to drop

amitymamma - I had my fasting tests at 30 weeks, if your worried you should be able to get refered beforehand though. when i got my results I couldnt speak to dietician for a week, basically io stopped eating any raw sugar (cake, chocolate, biscuits etc) and upped by salad/veg, cut back on carbs. This is pretty much what they'll tell you to do. Fruit is supposed to be ok because of the fibre, I do find that I have to do some exercise to work it off though.

re type 2 diabeties - have been told that I can reduce risk by losing weight and keeping it off after baby born, and keeping up with healthy diet, but what makes you high risk for GD also puts you in high risk group for type 2, i.e. high BMI, family history etc

CSWS have opted for lister due to atrocious first birth experience with dd1 at QE2, had both dd2+3 at lister with no issues. am under consultant banajhee(??) who i think too care of me last time. have talked through possible early induction at 38 weeks, and have heaps of appointments already.

Banerjee misdee, same as me . Sounds like we'll finally get to meet then, as we will be at the same Monday diabetes clinic (assuming you do get it of course!).

hunker - egg on toast is the other thing the dietician recommended for b'fast, but I blocked it from my mind because she told me off like a naughty schoolgirl for having my eggs softly cooked. Obviously hasn't heard that salmonella has been eradicated from lion marked eggs . Bought some 'light' soya milk today too, so will try that on cereal to check whether it's the cereal itself that I can't handle, or just what I'm putting on it.

amitymama - although changing your diet won't stop you from getting GD, it will help to control it so that you can minimise the risks to the baby whilst you are waiting for your test (which I'm appalled still isn't being offered earlier).

i have GTT next week, if thats one clear then will have another done at 28weeks.

but yup, will probabl;y asee yu at monday clinics.

but also have anti-d clinics as well.

in fact i might as well live there. my booking in appointment was a bit of a shambles, and i was very stressed by the end of it. am glad that is over.

CSWT I told my dietician I was using light soya milk and I was told off and told not to use it. Not enough calcium in it for LO (or you).

I'm using goats milk - semi skimmed at the mo. Less sugars than cows milk.

I've got one with added calcium jw. She was happy with me using normal soya milk, as I explained that I can't tolerate much cows' milk (had to give it up for 18 months as dd was intolerant, and discovered when re-introducing that it seemed to have been the cause of my frequently upset stomachs that had disappeared!). If the alternative is making porridge with water then it has to be better than that!

as for milk i have always drank skimmed only
im of to see the day assemesment today as i have been feeling so ill
i havnt ate properly in a week i dont have any appetite anymore
im sick an awful lot and i have had keytones and glucose in my urine last 2 tests
eg. my BS yesterday were 5.6 i ate 1 piece of cheese on toast and 2 hrs later it was 14.1 thats was with my insulin at 18 units
mw rang yesterday and said my iron levels have dropped to 7.3 despite being on iron tablets
it sounds silly but i get breathless drinkn a glass of water its just to much energy to do it
baby moving around fine so im happy about that
but i guess its sensible to go have it checked out
otter thanks for that info it was very helpful
has anyone else felt this ill? could it be linked to anything
also otter my baby has craniosynostosis
he has fused skull bones in the front of his head
birthing him is going to very tough as his head will not mould to the shape it needs to
to enable him to be born quickly or safely,plus hes big
i have 2 other children with crouzons syndrome
this baby was suppised to be ok but things changed at around 27 weeks on scan
hope you other ladies are ok this morning

Oh disney, it sounds like you're having a really rough time of it. It sounds like they will probably admit you, so best of luck!

egg on toast = 7.6. I'm screwed!

oh disneystar you're having a tough old time of it, it seems

Ketones not good in urine as you know.

I hope you get sorted out soon with hospital - and don't forget to ask about the CS especially with LO having such a condition too.

CSWS it seems you are screwed old girl! Fresh air for you in future

Glad to see you found an alternative milk that's suits your BS

disneystar - I'd guess that your consultant would recomend a c-section or early induction, I would sit down with consultant, tell them the situation and ask for a c-section. Consultant will probably be relieved that you want one, they want baby and you safely through the birth process. Sounds like your going through the mill at little with bloods and everything. is it worth getting in touch with your diabetic nurse for some advice? Mine was really helpful?

CSWS - nightmare! have you tried going for a walk round the block after eating? it helps bring my sugars down. How does plain toast do for you? are you getting enough water?

just got back and had a heart trace on baby hes ok
seems the iron tablets are not workin my bloods were even lower so they are looking at injections thats the reason i keep faintin breathless and tired
my BP was 110/49 apparantly to low another reason why i feel ill
they found keytones ++ nitrates in my urine
i have a kidney infection as well
so im a bit rough but hes ok which im glad about
i have a appt monday with consultant and MW has asked me to ask for a elective c-section as liklihood transfusion would be needed for some reason
so im going to ask monday
but this would all explain why im so so tired i guess
also just put my insulin up to 20 units twice a day
my BS this morning were 7.9 i had 1 bit of toast and at the hospital it was 12.4
enough of me moaning on ive got another 6 to 7 weeks left im sure i can hang on that long
hows everyone else doing today?

Lordy disneystar. Glad they got to the bottom of your tiredness and breathlessness. Seems like you've got a few things going on there that they're addressing...which is good, better than leaving them. And I'm sure they're all really treatable

Really pleased that LO is fine through all of this.

Good news that your MW thinks you DO need a CS. Be firm with hospital people especially if there's a chance you'll need a transfusion.

And hey, what's another 2 units of insulin between friends?

Hope you're putting your feet up and watching some crap rubbish on telly with some hobnobs lettuce and a cup of gin water

Glad you're back safe and well and with a plan of action disneystar . Surprised they said that your bp was too low though - mine has been 90/50 and 100/50 at my last 2 appts, and they said that was fine!

Do you have 6 or 7 weeks left until the full 40 weeks? I'd imagine they'll do a CS around 38 weeks, so only 4 or 5 weeks to go then!

otter - a walk (not technically round a block as we live in the countryside where there isn't a block, or even a pavement ) isn't a bad idea in theory, but since I'm not normally dressed and ready to go out (dd likes a bath with me after breakfast) until close to an hour after breakfast, I'm not sure it would happen in reality! Maybe dh will just have to put up with having the cross trainer in the living room (we're building an extension to put it in, but it's in the shed at the moment), and I could hop on there for 10 mins. Still going to try porridge with light milk, and more of a cooked breakfast first though.

My appetite has really shown a marked increase over the past week or so. I just want to trough all day long. Not sure if it's where I am at in my pregnancy or I've turned into a fat, greedy oaf

I'm thinking about taking up an aquarobics class. Anyone tried it before? What did you think?

I've always been a fat greedy oaf .

I did some aqua-aerobics during my last pregnancy. Found a really good class, where the workout did actually make you feel like you'd had a workout, which was good. Have done other classes previously where whilst fun, I didn't feel like it was really doing me any good. Def give it a try and see what you think. I can't get to anything like that now as have no childcare (except Tuesday afternoons when I do go to the gym). Is this your first pregnancy jw?

johnwof - pmsl at gin/hobnobs comment... its like a window into my secret desires... most people want pregnancy over so they can have their figure back etc, I just want a biscuit. I dream in biscuits... I wasnt bothered before I couldnt have them...

CSWS - i do force myself to get dressed before i eat so that I havent got an excuse... I do have shower when i get back though? (i have totally stopped caring what i look like...)

re greedy oaf - I got really hungry from about 34 weeks, I just ate exciting things like celery as everything else was too much effort to prepare. Nairns oakcakes also useful if you get desperate... I ended up having a glass of water instead because I couldnt be bothered with the preperation... im so lazy

CSWS fraid not my first - it's my 4th. But previous 3 don't count as they're all at the age or over that they can vote We do have DSS aged 8 though who lives with us so he DOES count! But he's in school all day so I have a little bit of time to do something outside of work/home.

Think I will give the aqua workout a go. Not sure what I'll look like in a tankini Don't own one but there's no way I'm getting into a bikini and a one piece will make me look like I've swallowed a sofa.

I have the oat cakes in the cupboard. They're a bit like cardboard unless you spread half a pound of philly on the top - kinda defeats the whole object though I'm just trying to fill up on water and chant to myself 'not hungry, not hungry' as I loiter around the fridge door looking idly inside for morsels. I'm going to get a 'fridge tan' if I linger much more.

Oh! what I wouldn't give right now for a cream egg...........<makes Homer Simpson drooling noise>

cantsleepwont sleep no im only 30 weeks but the plan all along was inducement at around 36 weeks hence 6or 7 weeks to go
i was induced quite early last time
dan was 9lb 4oz at 36 weeks
also the longer the baby is inside me the more fused his skull bones get
johnworf i have a cream egg in the fridge
DH got it for me i cant eat it though hes always gettin me chocs and saying oh yeah i forgot
anyway got to get dinner kids starving and beginning to go a bit nuts on the WII
mario kart music gets a bit much mixed in with my 16yr olds music upstairs

have you tried the cheese flavoured oat cakes? they are less cardboardy...

i think about food more now than I ever have before, i plan every sodding mouthful! good news is that consultant has said that as soon as baby is out (i.e. 1 week if she has to be induced and doesnt come out before) i can eat cake... part of me wants to write a huge list of nice things I want DP to get in house so i can scoff the lot...

disneystar at cream egg... i've had no easter eggs this year at all... DP ate his in front of me the git!!

otter1908 didn't know they made cheesey oatcakes. I'm off shopping after dropping DSS off at cubs later today so I'll hunt them down. Thanks for the tip

I too have planned my post pregnancy feast. I'm visualising me (natch) doing a fine impression of Henry the eighth, throwing bones over my shoulder and belching loudly. It's the only thing that keeps me going...Easter passed me by this year as well

My DH never buys me anything as he's a thoughtless git so I don't have problems of stockpiled choccy or anything else for that matter (unless you count dirty socks)

Hello Ladies
Can I join you? I had GD with both DS's tho late diagnose (35 + 30 weeks) so just diet controlled.
I'm 18 + 5 (waves at CSWS!) and have GTTs booked for 20/24/28 weeks - so basically one amonth until I fail! Tho consultant - who treated me like a human being and listened to everything I had to say!! - said she didn't think all GD was best diagnosed by the GTT and she may get me finger pricking in the meantime. The good news was she said they wouldn't induce me till "around my due date" if I keep off insulin, given they tried to induce me at 39 weeks and it took a week to get me into labour.....
On the scores thing, with DS1 it was 2 hrs after eating and to score less than 8, then with DS2 they seemed tomove the goalposts to 1.5 hrs and less than 7
Anyway, enjoying poss my last week of relative normal eating...
good luck everyone who seems close to the baby + biscuit nirvana!

I found some oatcakes in the cupboard today, but actually spat it out it tasted so bad! They were a year out of date though, so hoping that that was the reason!

I got some low GI cake recipes from a friend at the weekend. She has made low GI brownies for us for our Friday toddler group the last couple of weeks - yum! Haven't made any myself yet though.

Welcome pepperrabbit - such optimism in joining this thread already!!
for taking a week to get the induction to work, and for such comparatively easy targets!

Hi just wanted to send my support to a you GD ladies. I had GD in my 1st pregnancy and remember how much hard work it was. I was on diet controlled to start with but just looking at a piece of fruit sent my BM sky high so I went on injections.

My best piece of advice is to find out everything about what will happen in labour and after baby is born.
I was tod very briefly that Iwould be checked in labour and baby would be checked after,but I was completely unprepared for what really happened.

At the risk of scaring myself, what did happen fiodyl?

Bugger. Tried porridge made with light soya milk today, and still scored 8.9, so def opting for a cooked breakfast tomorrow.

1 week to go for me now before I have my baby and much cake!!!

johnworf [humm] at your DH...

hello pepperrabbit <waves> i've managed to control via diet and I've got to 40+3 before they induce me so there is hope! Ive been told that if baby doesn't respond to the gel after dose 3 (day 2) Im getting a c-section... that you spent a week getting induced!

I do feel very lucky with my targets compared to you lot though, i have to be below 5 before meals and below 7.5 2 hours after food. you poor buggers!

CSWS - yes the plain oakcakes are rank, DP did try one and spat it straight out. This did make him much more sympathetic though (although he didnt stop eating the hobnobs) maybe any DPs/DHs that arent sympathetic and offer lots of cake upon birth of child should be forcefed them? rubbish for you with the porridge... until i got myself settled on porridge I was having lunch type meals for breakfast for a week of so? sounds ramdom but it worked for me and its not a fry up every day?

fiodyl - yeah, at the risk of scaring us all, what happened?

CSWS you've failed in your quest to score a full house at diabetes bingo

Who didn't tell me I could have a fry up everyday?

When I last spoke to my dietician I said 'you know what, I can have lots of meat and my BS are great!' She said...'not so. protein is not good for your body to have to convert'. I dunno about these dietician folk. Mine thinks that rich tea biscuits are the work of the devil.

I'm off to buy 8 lbs of sausages, 4 packs of bacon and a crate of eggs...whistles

Oooooh otter1980 are you excited or are you at the pissed-off-get-this-baby-outta-me stage?

I'm hoping that fiodyl tells us what really did happen but I'm going to fetch a cushion first to hide behind - just in case.

And yes otter1980 you are correct...my DH is an arse sometimes

I will hate your dietician as well as my own then jw! If we can't eat protein or carbs then we're all screwed really aren't we! Add some mushrooms and tomatoes to your shopping list jw, and then you can say that you had 2 portions of veg for breakfast - who could argue with that ?

Can you have a slice of carrot cake for me otter. One with nice sticky cheesy icing. <wipes drool off computer>

ah well all food is the devil y'see! and what exactly are you supposted to eat? no carbs, no sugar, according to your dietician protien is bad? Dust for you methinks. My friend (also a GD pregnancy, we met at the hospital) pointed out that unless we were careful our babies would end up being like gillian Mckeith, obsessed with poo, seeds and leaves...

when i asked my consultant when I could eat normal food again she looked shocked like it was a suprise i asked, I did wonder how long she'd been doing the job [humm]

bit of both on the baby front, been climbing the walls for last few weeks deperate for baby to come out before they induced us, now I have just accepted that shes not doing anything she doesnt want to... DP did decide that she would arrive on the 15th very early on in pregnancy so having spent ages telling me off for trying to get her out before EDD hes now trying hostage negotiations...

if you would like to list the cakes and biscuits you would like me to eat on your behalf I would willingly martyr myself to your cause!

Ah saint otter1980 patron saint of gateau I would like you to eat at least half a packet of chocolate hobnobs for me and several Mars Bars. Please, hear my cause. Thanks.

I shall add mushrooms and whatever else I can get away with. I suppose cornettos are not on that list though? Anyway dust is sooooo last season....I'm on fluff this week

Hope you LO pops out soon for you today otter1980. And as they say on the tv, the day is but young. You have by my reckoning 13.5 hours for the blighter to surrender and come out with her hands up!

CSWS shall we start up our own business of maternity voodoo dolls? Full range including midwife, consultant, dietician, stroppy receptionist, and optional narky DP? Complete with 100 pins?

Whaddya think?

OOOO!!! I'd pay good money for a voodoo doll of the scary consultant who actually refused to acknowledge my presence in a room until I started bringing DP with me and then would only address DP... He also scared the crap out of me by saying C-section at every second breath.. (which i want to avoid as I am freaked out by the cutting thing, i am a big wuss and not sure how we'll do this birth thing...) plus one of the midwife who takes blood so badly that your still bruised a week and a half later, who passes comment on your BMI when shes bigger that your 39 weeks pregnant self?

mars bars <otter drools> chocolate hobnobs - I'd been dreaming of the plain ones, how has i forgotten the chocolatey goodness?

11 hours 15 mins into hostage negotiations and LO isnt even picking up the phone. My internal organs are still being held hostage...

Sold! to the lady at the back with the bump Shows otter1980 how to do the curse over evil consultant and fatty midwife....

You know otter1980 I've just licked my monitor where you typed 'Mars Bar' and 'Hob Nob' and it tastes just as I remember - of dust Bleugh.

Not fair. Want the real thing. I'm so envious you're having your LO so soon and allowed to pass from the Dark Side back to land of fairy cakes and Star Bars.

OK Ill tell seeing as you asked, its not that bad tbh but I was just so unprepared it was a big shock, and I have since found out that some of the things that happened were probably unnessessary.

I was booked in to be induced at 38+5 weeks as they tod me baby was getting too big-she was actually only 6lb1oz.
The induction took 2 days and I was strapped to the bed with the CTG monitor constant and syntocinon drip in one arm and 2 drips for insulin and glucose in the other.

Eventually I had a c-section but the epidural failed so I was put to sleep and DP was asked to wait outside.

When I came round I got to hold DD for about 5mins(difficult as drips were still attached) b4 they said they needed to take her for tests.I thought this meant in the room next door, but they actually took her to the SCBU 3 floors away. Eventually I got taken to see her and they told me her blood sugar was 3.3. and they had given her Farleys formula milk, but I could choose a diferent brand if I prefered!!!

Her blood sugar was ok within 24hrs but it took us about a week to get out of SCBU and that was ony cos we 'agreed' to bottle feed her.

fiodyl that's my absolute worst case scenario what happened to you, which is another reason I'm glad to be having an elective where I can be awake to bark orders at the staff there NOT to feed my baby with formula.

Gosh, how did you contain yourself what with the SCBU and the milk fiasco?

Sounds like a complete nightmare to me.

It is the worst case scenario which is why I recommend that everyone makes sure they know what coud happen and what needs to happens and what doesnt.

Re the milk situation I did say I wanted to BF and they agreed to let me try. The problem was that because they were filling her up via a tube up her nose, she never really got hungry enough to latch on and suck. But they wouldnt take the tube out until she fed on her own.Also I was only allowed to 'try' evry 4 hours as the rest of the time I was sposed to be 'resting' down on the maternity ward.

After a couple of days they told me I could express but as I didnt know how to use the machine(very scary contraption) and my milk had not yet come in, I didnt get very much so they still topped up with formula.

I only agreed to give her this mixed bottle feeding as it was the ony way to get out of there, get home and breastfeed properly.

Crikey! It gets worse fiodyl. I think I would have been in trouble if that had been me. For a start there would have been lots of 'fark', 'pish' and 'twonks' uttered, or something thereabouts.

I'm off to write my birth plan this afternoon - in stone ...with blood!!!

Hope that everything is ok for you and LO now fiodyl. Did you manage the BF once you got home away from the NHS fascists?

Liking the voodoo doll idea a lot. And MN are giving us free advertising by making us one of the discussions of the day - fame and fortune at last!

Have just enjoyed a lovely lunch of grilled bacon, mushrooms, a few beans, some bread and butter, and some eggs, made especially runny for the delight of my dietician!

Realised that when I had my toast based breakfasts earlier in the week, I used a different bread instead of burgen, and for 2 slices there is actually 12 carbs difference , so might be worth trying the egg on toast again with my usual bread. I will not give up in my quest to find a decent breakfast!

fiodyl - shocking that they could get the weight so wrong! 6lb 1oz is as light as a feather to me. Dd was 9lbs without GD!
I think I will put my instructions not to give formula in BOLD TYPE AND CAPITALS in my birth plan, so that they get the message. Maybe I'll have it tattooed on my fanjo too .

Otter - choc digestives for me please. Hob nobs are a bit dry for me.

Wonders who will be doing the tatooing on your fanjo

Oooh and we're famous so best not talk about CSWS's fanjo.....whoops!

Wow that's a big carb difference on the bread front. I'm still on the wholemeal ham salad affair which I had for lunch. I measured 7.1 on the blood sugar scale (and I'm on an 'after' day today). Just scraping in there. Dreading tomorrow when I have to check in with Diabetes Clinic. I just KNOW they're gonna put me on more insulin *looks for the crying emoticon*

Yes they did have to admit they were way out on her weight, it was based on a growth scan at 34weeks which said she was 5lb9oz then. So they either made a mistake or she only grew 8oz in 5 weeks!

once we were home I got in contact with a BF counsellor who heped us loads but DD still never latched on very well and always prefered a bottle, so I expressed as well. Unfortunatly other circumstances meant I had to stop competely not long after.

Did they not scan again at 38 weeks fiodyl? I will get 4 weekly scans from now on, so 22 weeks, 26, 30, 34 and 38. That's the only good bit I can see about having GD!

5.3 for me after lunch . Bet it will be higher from the same food in the morning though.

What's an 'after' day jw?

they did do a quick scan at 38 wks but didnt do any measurements, only checked baby was head down and engaged. Probaby cos they were already decided on induction.

and im really rofl at the tattooed fanjos. I was allset todo something similar when I got pregnant agin with DS. Strangly though I didnt get GD 2nd round so I didnt have to!

i presume an after day is
one day you test your BS before breakfast lunch and dinner
next day you test afterwards
well thats what i do

fiodyl what you described at birth is what i so want to avoid
i have got a doula this time round so if they even try to bottle feed him they wont get far
having all those drips and things all over makes me shudder
i am asking for my elective on monday i am expecting a battle and will be suprised if i dont get one and he gives in easily

It sure is disneystar and hope you're feeling much perkier today dear girl

Ah, I see. All my days are afters then.

I'm off to do my after tea bs. I was very good and had salad, sugar free jelly and a very large minute portion of ben and jerrys.

Shoot me now

Well my dietician did say that if I wanted ice cream then to have it with a meal, rather than on it's own, so it might not be too bad. She did say plain vanilla though (which I'm quite happy with).

You have tea early jw. Is that it for the night, or will you eat again?

fiodyl the bastards! we've been told by (nice) consultant (we have about 3 - its all a bit complex...) to BF straight away as she thinks its best for baby and shes written it in notes so hopefully that'll not happen. Also know that tests are done in same room at our hospital...

JW - cant believe that they'd put you on insulin for 7.1! It seems crazy that I have to keep mine below 7.5

right - on my little high horse - here are the National institute of clincal excellences (NICE) guidelines to the NHS on diabeties in pregnancy where it says in the CG63 Diabetes in pregnancy: quick reference guide that If it is safely achievable, women with diabetes should aim to keep fasting blood glucose between 3.5 and 5.9 mmol/litre and 1-hour postprandial blood glucose below 7.8 mmol/litre during pregnancy

yes I am a total loser and I do like to research everything (and I had lots of stuff from these guidelines ready to throw at nasty consultant when he was trying to c-section me too early for no reason...) BUT i would take that in to hospital and ask why you have to jump through these impossible hoops and are being made to feel like a 'bad mum' when these are the guidelines??!!!!

i will go sit in the corner and calm down now... sorry!

Officially that's it. Unofficially I'll have a bowl of cereal around 7.30pm ready for my last prick of the night - oooh errrr.

Have tea early as DSS is ready to eat as soon as he comes home from school. I can only hold him off for so long........

The result <drum roll> was 5.8 so Ben & Jerry can visit again

Oh bravo jw - that's amazing! Dietician told me to try cereal as an evening snack, as I can't tolerate it in the mornings.

otter - bravo! I like to have stuff like that to hand in case I need it, as I sense I may have a few battles on my hands over the next 20 weeks!

otter1980 the 7.1 is despite taking 10 units of insulin in the morning. And another 8 units at night. That's why it's only at 7.1!!! If I wasn't on the insulin I shudder to think what it would be.

4.9 after dinner. Yeah yeah yeah - go girl!

showoff!

Hello all - thought I would dip me head in here as I saw it on the homepage! I had gestational diabetes with both my babies - DD is now 6 and Ds is 15 months. First time ound I managed on diet alone, second time - ewent on insulin at 25 weeks pg - managed ok - was on fast acting insulin before meals, coped ok and levels were around the 6-7 ater meals. Baby had sugar problems when born - elective section at 38 weeks - he was 8 8 but ouldnt regulate his temp, sugars low, wouldnt feed, so he went to SCBU or 26 hours - the long worst 26 hours in my life (pg hormones!!).

Well now I am a Type 2 diabetic - not sure it went away after birth, but, there you go.

I am on diet control - I cannot eat cereal for breakfast as my levels are too high when testing at 2 hours later - so I have a protein based meal or a yoghurt / milk fruit smoothie (home made). I also find that I have to reduce my carbs as I cannot tolerate them sugar level wise. I can have a roast dinner with two small potatoes, and 2 hrs later - sugar levels are 5.4. If I have - say Spag Bol, then my level would be 8 or 9 when testing two hours later.

It is a controversial thing to reduce carbs if you listen to the health care professionals as they all state that you should fill up on complex carbs - but I go by the diabetes.co.uk website which has a forum on and alot of people there find that low carbs are the way to go. Insulin is great as you can eat what you like as long as you balance it out with the right dose of insulin. It can be difficult when pg as you have to take the word of the dietician, diabetic nurses, etc and you have another little life to think of, but I would say to all those struggling with getting levels low enough - look at what you are eating - dont lower portion sizes, but maybe reduce slightly your carb instake, and up your veg intake. I am sure it wouldnt do any harm to try it for a few meals as the effect is instant! ANother good tip I got was to have a protein based snack as supper - say 9pm - as this gives your body something to work on while you are sleeping (!) - I do this and have lowered morning levels from high 7 levels to 5-6 levels. It is a simple as a piece of meat, handful of nuts and seeds, etc. It is due to sommething called the Dawn Effect - see i you can find it on the web.

Hope any of the above helps you!

Hi - hope I haven't joined this too late!

I had GD with DD, diagnosed last summer. Mornings were the most difficult. My blood sugars were hitting 13+ with porridge, or unsweetened muesli, so I had to experiment. I found that soya and linseed bread was the least bad (wholemeal sent me way over, even in the evening), and I could have that with eggs and some protein, which was often fish (smoked salmon or mackerel - but the dietician at my diabetes clinic asked me to cut back on that to 2 portions a week) or ham, rather than bacon. Because I wasn't eating fruit or veg for breakfast, I had to have a huge salad or stir-fry later in the day to get my veg in, and bulked these out with lentils and beans (not baked beans though, have always hated the sauce). I snacked on dried apricots or prunes and nuts. I found the numerous GI books / sites really helpful - for instance I learned that sweet potatoes were fine but squashes were not. So I'd have sweet potato, ricotta, parmesan, sage and hazelnut lasagne; or puy lentil, tomato, feta, red onion and herb salad. In the evenings I could usually manage a square or two of 70% chocolate.

I lost weight while pregnant because of this diet, although it has gone back on again despite breast-feeding. So I am following it again now, more or less, and hoping for similar results.

Hope that helps? Good luck with managing your GD. It all feels like a really long time ago now for me.

PS - re the horror stories about formula etc, I was induced and ended up with a c-section, and my baby was taken out of theatre while they stitched me up, which took an hour because of some complications. But my husband was allowed to go with her, and as soon as I was taken through she was given to me to feed, which I did for two hours through such a fug that it's amazing I remember any of it. The (specialist) team of midwives I had couldn't have been more supportive and encouraging of breast-feeding. They were completely brilliant.

Sorry to go on!

Hi andyrobo237 Some interesting tips on lowering BS there.

Sorry that your LO had to go into SCBU...is that a normal occurence? Why couldn't he regulate his temperature? Was this related to your diabetes?

Can I just clarify...you are still type 2 diabetic even though you're not pregnant? Is this normal too? I've been told that I may be prone to it in later life but been led to believe by hospital that it'll disappear once baby is delivered.

Thanks.