My gtt 3 weeks ago was at the upper end of normal so I had it repeated today. Over the last 3 weeks I have tried really hard to change my diet and have cut out all of my sugary drinks and snacks. Well today, my reading were low! I'm so chuffed. I realise I'm lucky and for some women no amount of dietry change will do it but it's worth a try if you are still 'normal' but high. The doctor said if I had carried on with my normal diet I would have most probably had even higher readings this time. Good luck to everyone on this thread, and thanks for the advice and inspiration.

Hi Huggy25 - thanks for the info about insulin. I suspect I'll be put on it tomorrow, as I was upped to the maximum Metformin dose last week, and have still had some high readings - probably due to sugars in some of the sauces of things I've eaten. Most annoying! We shall see what the diabetes clinic says...

I had my 34 week scan today, and madam's abdominal area is right on the uppermost level (but still just within range) - although both myself and my husband were 9lb babies - looks like madam is set to repeat family history.. and 9lb babies aren't really catered for, measurement-wise on those charts, annoyingly.

I'm the same as you, diet-wise - not a thing with sugar, or at least, I'm trying my best (things like a cheese and pickle sandwich caught me out, the pickle being so sugary), but I think this last six weeks it's just not happening like it was before. I've followed the GI diet pretty much 99.9% of the time, which is what diabetics tend to follow, which has helped a lot.

I've only just found this website & this particular topic!

I was diagnosed with GD @ 23 weeks, and have been on insulin since 24 weeks (am now 28+6).

Insulin injections are not nice but you do get used to them, especially when they are 4 times a day! I also have to do glucose level tests 7 times a day, and not eat a thing with any sugar which is so hard when my craving since day 1 has been orange juice & pineapples!

The weird thing is though, is that at all of my scans (now having them every 3 weeks), the baby is showing on the smaller side of average which the hospital cant seem to work out.

I dont want anyone else to have to go through all of the tests & appointments I'm going through, but it is good to hear of other people going through similar things & know I'm not alone : )

forever i think either too little or too much fluid can cause problems, but doesnt always. In my case, the risk is PROM and possible anomolies with the baby. however, it can also be caused by the GD.i have to go back next week to talk about delivery and what next. they are not keen for me to still be at work but i only have a week left. just as well, as i dont think i'll be able to drive after that. my seat is as far back as i can safely have it and bump is about 2mm from the wheel!

it must be very frightening to think of delivery so early, but it is good that they are monitoring you so closely. i know of 2 babes delivered at 31 weeks, both are fine, healthy boys now. good luck with your appt on monday.

i'm impressed that the ice cream doesnt mess with sugars ,will try later, will be a real treat! not a big fan of fruit loaf but maybe will try again! i tried some diabetic fudge the other day and it was nice but gave me the runs!!i haven't found anything else as yet but will keep you posted if i do!

Olivio whats the big deal with too much fluid. I have too lettle and been told this is a mojor issue. I will find out on monday what the course of action will be. there was even talk of deliver and i am only 30 weeks. I am really scared.

GD being controlled with 1 metformin tab every eve. seems to be working and i am being strict with diet. EFW at 30 weeks was 4lb 5oz which is quite big but all in proportion. My bump is quite small due to little fluid. Also i make big babies as I am 6' and DH is taller than me so no concerns regarding growth. DD1 was born 6lb 3oz at 35 weeks!

I am having a c-section because i have placenta previa too the list goes on. To add something else to the list (why not) i have had tingling fingers all evening and google says 'carpel tunnel syndrome'.....ho hum

discovered that one scoop of ice cream didn't affect sugars and fruit loaf (which i have never bought before) is a nice sweet fix with little impact on sugars also. Anything 'sweet' that is kind to us that anyone else has discovered??

hello, just been for my next growth scan and the baby is still large, but everything is in proportion. i have even more fluid there though so not so good. they think my sugars are well under control though and not affecting the baby, which is good news.

am still really struggling with the diet but at least it seems to be paying off.

heeeby, have you had your results?

Hi all,

Really good to hear more stories and i agree re large babies, my DD was 9lb 12.5oz and i didn't have GD and her blood sugar was fne at birth.

I have been up and down as i was borderline a few weeks ago (random blood sugar was 6.6) so have tried to be careful but today ahad my 39 weeks check and had +4 glucose in wee and baby is very large for dates.

I had to have another blood test and i should know today, they wanted to rush them through for me. If it comes back as >7 i shall be asking for a growth scan as was told a while ago that if i am borderline GD then it might be why baby is big. My 32 week scan showed EFW was 5lbs and head and abdo circum was >97th centile.

Wine (esp white) has lots of sugar in it, red is better as when it is made it ferments after it has been pressed whereas white grapes ferment (with natural sugars etc) before being pressed. Shame tho as lovely to have!

redboxer, i found your post interesting, as my EFW at 30+3 was 4lb 2 and they said that was ok - i am not very big!!!

thanks for info about alcohol, forever. i had a small glass with my dinner but forgot to test - really enjoyed it though Should keep me satisfied for a few more weeks!

I have to test my sugar levels an hour after eating and the clinic would like them below 7.5. Mid-week levels are always fairly low, 6.8 being the highest and then as the weekend nears or if I've got a hospital appointment the levels go all over the place.

However, I had a fetal growth scan at 34+6 and it came back within average range for dates. EFW = 1922 g (4lbs). GD is being controlled through diet at moment. The Diabetic Nurse wanted me to go onto insulin due to some of the high readings, but I really don't want and cannot see why if he is growing within range.

I was diagnosed with GD at week 28, wasn't put onto controlled diet until week 31 so it's been 6 weeks since first finding out and cutting out most sugars. Is insulin really that necessary, I'm more scared of having hypos if I take it when my levels are low.

I wanted to share my experience with so called diabetes in pregnancy...

Family hx: both of my parents are type2.

DD1 : pregnancy swimmingly easy. A midwife points out that DD1 is 7lbs easy. Sends me for a scan at 36w. They accused me of diabetes, told me i should've taken the GTT (i refused all but urine testing with DD1), and sent me to a diabetic midwife. Random sugar was 6.5. I was a nervous wreck, feeling like i'd broken my baby somehow.

Diabetic midwife had me test my sugars 5x / day for a week and report back to her. Not one was above 7, most were between 4 - 5.

She discharged me, but baby was huge anyway. 10lb 1oz, caesarean due to her being so big. I did not have diabetes, and all the furore was for nowt. Her sugars were perfect after birth despite being told i'd have to formula feed her because 'big babies have low sugar' which is a sweeping generalisation and also bollocks.

Fwd to DD2 last year: I told them 'dont even mention diabetes or else i'm outta here.' So they didnt. And DD2 was only 9lb 8. I did nothing different from what i did with DD1...Her sugar was fine after birth, though on day 2 they thought it might'be been low causing trembling legs and arms, but it was 3.8, which they decided was fine.

I am 9mo postpartum and aware that i may develop diabetes, esp consideing my BMI is > 30. That said, i had a random glucose 2 weeks ago in a round of blood tests, and it was 5.2.

Moral of the story? Not all big babies are big due to gestational diabetes. Making moms feel like shit over baby's size is not helpful.

forevermore - according to my GI book, nuts like Pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, macademia are all low-GI, so should keep your blood sugars down, whereas all others aren't a lot of good, unfortunately. Peanuts, pecans, walnuts are all 'amber' foods - so aren't completely bad, but of course there's that old chestnut (ha, no pun intended there) about peanuts being bad for you if you have allergies. (no good for me, with my asthma and hayfever and occasional eczema!)

what i can say is i was told that alcohol will spike then drop you blood sugar levels. i also remember that my blood sugars drops if i had wine when pregnant with DD1 and on insulin. i would give it a go and test within an hour and see what has happened. it may be personal to you. i have a glupsip of wine a couple of times a week but only a out of DH glass. that seems to keep me going.

I was also going to ask about nuts. since i have had GD this is the only snack that fills me up and doesn't affect BS (i am talking a v.small handful) should i avoid do you think?

can i ask does anyone know about alcohol and gest diabetes? i really fancy a glass of wine, have had only the one since i've been pg. will it mess up my blood sugars? it'll be just a little dry white!

forever, i have to be below 7 after 2 hours, wasnt aware it had changed. i wouldnt imagine the odd high reading is too much of a problem, my nurse told me to expect the odd 'way out' one. i have one tonight - i naively had 2 non alcoholic beers at the pub after work, and then did my before dinner testing and then had a bigger than normal dinner out. i wont make that mistake again!!

does anyone know whay when i had DD1 i had to keep sugar below 7 after two afters and no in 2009 is below 7.8 in 1 hour (which is much harder i might add). DD1 was born without low BS so it obviously worked. right now struggling to keep below 7.8 after 1 hour but easily under 7 after 2 hours.

also how detrimental is the odd high reading?

Congrats Tyniclogs!

Just a quick one from me, but some things I've done diet-wise lately which are helping keep my levels down which may or may not be some help!

Breakfast is now an omelette with quorn and soya beans (!!!) and a slice of toast - my levels have stayed low - although I'm also taking two metformin with the food.

Olivo Biscuits - I found some Nairns ginger biscuits in Holland and Barrett - Sainsburys do them too, and they're a lifesaver. They're definitely Low GI, so allowed - and so far I've had no high readings. Nairns also do some crisp-type snacks, made from oats, cheese flavour, chili flavour and one other I can't remember - a bit pricey in Holland and Barrett, but again, a lifesaver! Nairns also seem to be the only company who mark their food 'Low GI' - worth checking what they have though. (here's a link to everything they do, and their GI/GL level - http://www.nairns-oatcakes.com/content/default.asp?page=s10_3)

Hanhingbellyofbabylon Fruit-wise, all these should be fine fresh, as they're low GI - Apples, blackberries, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, limes, oranges, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb. Avoid melons though - very high in sugar! I guess a lot is playing by ear, though, as cereals are low-GI, but don't work for me, and leave me with a high reading.

Heebychick Diabetic chocolate is no good - it's got a lot of fat in it, and we were advised against it by our dietician. I've got some dark chocolate covered ginger bits in my drawer at work, and I have a couple of those when I fancy it - one or two pieces a day isn't going to hurt if you eat sensibly!

Congrats Tyni and sorry the birth wasn't handled as well as it should have been . I'm glad your little boy is here safe and sound.

I had gtt last week which came back as the high end of normal so re-test in 2 weeks time. Since then I have cut out my much loved orange squash and sugar in my tea. No chocolate or sweeties have passed my lips. But when I went to ante-natal yesterday I had Glucose +2 and Ketones +1 in my urine. Also the baby is creeping up on the centiles on the growth scan and is looking big for dates. I think it's a dead cert that the Gestational Diabetes will catch up with me by the next GTT. The one thing I am finding it impossible to cut out is my fruit. I love this time of year as all of the best fruit is in season, yesterday I got a craving for peaches and ate 4 in a row . How are you all handling the lack of fruit ? have you been told you can eat any at all? I just ate a whole papaya and now feel really bad. I do eat veg but fruit is really my thing and through the long months of morning sickness (only stopped being sick every day at 26 weeks) fruit was often the only thing I could keep down so I guess I've got into the habit.

tyni that is a shame that it wasn't quite the relaxed and involved experience you had wanted. But i totally agree that it really doesn't matter as long as your little boy is here, safe and sound and your family is together. I remember feeling a failure when i had the emergency cs last time, i had tried for so long to get it right but in the end she came out safely and i have forgotten how it all happened in a way.

Good luck with the committee and yes raise your points, do your hospital offer the birth afterthoughts service? ours do here and it is an opportunity to talk in depth about your birth experience, i found it was helpful after DD and may well do it again after this one if i feel i need to, it doesn't matter how long after the birth you do it either which is great!

How do you feel now you can eat normally again? i really hope you manage to BF for as long as you want to and that the formula doesn't start to take over until you want it to.

olivo can you buy/make some 'good' ones or do they not exist? i bought some diabetic choc as i thought at least that was half way!

sorry you didnt get the experience you hoped for tyni, but as you say, try and see it as one day only, the rest and a good outcome are so much more important. it's great that you will get to comment as part of your committee.
i will bear in mind your experience when i speak to the consultant about delivery.

i am sooo desperate for some biscuits

Hmmm, good question Heebychick. The last one was an emergency but dare I say it...more enjoyable than the elective?! Basically my local hospital suffers greatly from staff who are overworked and lack the basics in communication. The whole experience was incredibley medical and my one request of having the screen down during the birth was met with a complete lack of understanding that I wanted to feel a part of what was happening. I was basically told I wouldn't want to see what was happening and they put the sheet higher so I they may as well have put a sheet over my head . The baby was born but taken to be dressed and checked and I didn't get to see him until recovery, my husband went to be with him which I'm glad about but I was left staring at the wall feeling completely detached from the whole event. The reason the emergecy one had been better was purely the staff attitude which reassured and included me in the whole event, I had skin to skin almost immediately and had seen the baby being born.

I not going to dwell on it all and the drugs completely wiped me out anyway which didn't help. I am telling myself it was 29 minutes of my life and the result obviously cancels out the procedure. I feel a little sad that I'll never know what it feels like to give birth normally, but like your wedding day it's just one day and it's the rest of life that matters.

I had an utterly rubbish midwife who walked off at one point instead of holding me upright on the edge of the table when I'd had the spinal She was shouted at by the surgical team...hehee. She then got up my nose by taking the baby behind the curtain in the recovery room and then wanted to know why I asked my husband to pull it back...so I could see my new born baby! She was giving him formula but had I not pulled it back she wasn't going to have told me.

Anyway. I am lucky enough to be a member of my local Maternity Liason Committee and meet with all the senior members of the service several times a year. I have a meeting coming up in a few weeks and will be able to report back in a full and frank manner on how I think they're doing!

Great to hear you are recovering well tyni and that your boy is healthy and well. How was this C-section compared to your previous one?

Just wanted to update, feeling much better today after the turmoil of hormones yesterday, wow they really floor you! Feeding is going much better and I've been milking lots to get the milk in. Feeling ok about having given formula even though I was dead against it as I can't see what else I could have done.

The best thing is being able to eat again without thinking so there is light at the end if the GD tunnel. I feel glad that I stuck to the diet as baby is looking really well and doesn't have all the rolls of fat my last one did. I'm also feeling better and am not craving sugar so even though I can have it I haven't actually tucked in too much.

Best of luck to everyone I hope you all have an easy time of it and hopefully we'll all be GD clear after the six weeks check up.

Congratulations Tyniclogs and welcome to your baby boy .

I had some cake today, i just couldn't not

Hey tyni lots of congratulations to you honey! What wonderful news!! Well done. Wow 9lb 6 is a great size and i bet you're glad you didn't go to term to deliver! you are good at making big babies huh.

Have a lovely few days and it will be lovely to hear all about the birth and your recovery when you get chance.

Congratulations again xx

Congrats Tyniclogs!

I just came across this thread and read it as I had GD.

Olivo, the diet does take a bit of getting used to. I had to test my blood seven times a day and do ketone readings in the morning. The testing got easier after a week or two. Perhaps try a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack and mix protein and carbs together to slow down sugar uptake into the blood. Take advantage of the fact it's summertime and bulk out on salads - light, filling and if you're good about what goes into them, they do not contribute to the carbohydrate counts (I used to measure my food carefully; the one thing that I gave up on was potato as caused the most dreadful spikes, no matter how little I ate).

Good luck to you all!

Just wanted to post the briefest update as I'm just home from hospital last night, on painkillers and milk is coming in so could ramble rubbish for hours! I had the elective at 2pm on Thursday which took 29 minutes and my 'little' boy was born weighing a tiny 9lb 6oz, he's so small compared to his brother but looks exactly as he did! Everything has been straightforward but have had some feeding issues and ended up giving a couple of cups of formula aswell as breast as he was so hungrey. I've stopped now I'm home and my milk has started coming. His blood sugar was on the low side at birth so they gave him formula. I think by insisting on the breast first and using a cup for formula hopefully it helps to establish feeding.

I shall post later and add more, hope all is well for everyone.

Oh no olivo it sounds like a nightmare, i'm glad i'm not in your shoes. Have you spoken to the clinic again for advice? Can you eat bread or pasta ? or is that carbs? i'm not sure what to suggest, can you have diabetic stuff like a sweet treat? what can you have?

In this heat i'm sure veggi soup would be the last thing you need!

If it helps i am getting light headed a lot too, if i go more than about 2 hours at the most without food i break out into a sweat and feel like i'm gonna pass out, i then have to stuff down lots of food quickly (bread or cereal bars seem to hit the spot!) it's awful! MY DH tells me i'm always eating, but then i say 'hey i have to!'

I am huge today, not just bump but all over, feet, hands, arms, legs ... everything, really uncomfortable and hating it now, please come early baby!!

xx

hello heeby. I'm having a crappy time wtih this restricted diet! I'm permanently starving and keep getting light headed, and i cannot ge the hang of getting blood from my fingers to do the testing!
but other than that , all is ok.

how are you?

Ooooh i wonder how tyni got on yesterday, i do hope she is ok and recovering well with her new bundle.

How is everyone?

Best of luck Tyniclogs - not long till you get to hold your lovely babe in your arms. xxx

Thanks everyone for updating and all your good wishes. It's really wierd to know I'm having a baby tomorrow and am starting to feel really nervous. I've had a rubbish day foodwise after saying I was going to try to be really good, it's just been really busy and I wasn't at home at lunchtime. I've been shopping all day and bought silly girly things like makeup (as I realise I shan't be shopping again in hurry with a toddler and new born!) I went in all the shops you can't get a double buggy into! I'm hoping having waddled up the high street I'll sleep well tonight.

Sorry to hear your news forevermore hopefully you will have a different experience this time as you know what to expect and can be a little more prepared for it. It's good to know there are others who are going through it and that we can support each other.

No-one should feel at all guilty about having GD as I was told it's just the way my body handles pregancy, it's got nothing to do with what you've eaten or how you've exercised. I consider myself a fit, healthy person (ok, so I eat sweets and chocolate and don't exactly 'work out' at all!) but having an 11lb 10oz baby was never something anyone could have predicted for me based on my weight or diet.

I have all the baby clothes ready, size 3-6 months! I'm preparing some witty responses for all the rude comments which will no doubt be made about his size and I am hoping the baby is on the big side or I'm going to look a complete fool for making such a fuss! I shall report back in a few days everyone and I shall let you know how the GD is handled in the hospital. See you all on the other side

olivo you've done really well so far, I hope it's all goes smoothly from now on.

hello, just back from my appt with the diabetic people so thought i'd report back. having cut all cakes, biscuits, choc, sweets and juices since my results, the dietician was fine about what i'm now eating, as my weight is ok. Still allowed my cereal, sandwiches at lunch time and some carbs at my evening meal, as long as protein and veg are plentiful. ALso ok to have a couple of pieces of fruit a day, and even a small glass of fruit juice with my iron tablets!!
have been given a monitor to check my glucose levels before and 2 hrs after one meal each day; i have to report back to them every week but can do it by phone or email as long as the results aren't too way out. bizarrely enough, when she did my level to show me what to do, it was 3.4 or something, which would have been hypo in a normal diabetic!! it was nearly lunchtime though!

am feeling a little less anxious about this side of things, just got the excess fluid to worry about now.

tyni, best of luck for tomorrow

forever, sorry to hear about your result; hopefully we can support each other a bit. Remeber, it is the hormones that cause it, that has helped me a bit.
hanging, i have taken one day at a time and gradually cut down over a week so far; it is really difficult but rememebr there is an end in sight....somewhere!

hi all

I am back with a positive GTT result. second time round for me. last time i was on insulin till DD1 had enough and i went into labour at 35+5. all was well except the forced ff feeding and then never established bf after that.

i had hoped for it all to be so different this time. i lost loads of weight got superfit (thinking this would stop the GD) got pregnant then wham, placenta previa grade IV diagnosed at 20 weeks, no exercise allowed and modified bed rest, then double wham positive GTT at 28 weeks, this time i can;t 'exercise the sugar away' so really worried about prognosis.

really glad you guys are gonna keep updating this thread, good luck to you all and especially keen to hear what happens post birth re: formula v breastfeeding. really want to breast feed this time. Having a c-section though due to previa so this totally new territory for me in most ways. i thought the last 8 weeks were long, this is gonna be a nightmare!

Hi, My MW has just said she can see me today instead of tomorrow so will be sure to report back!

hanging i know how you feel, i have failed at cutting down sugar today, it's like giving up all i love, thank goodness it's only short term - hopefully.

tyni in case you don't read MN tonight, lots of luck for tomorrow, do tell us all the details as i am really keen to know all after the event and lots of congratulations on your new arrival by this time tomorrow!

this is a great thread and good luck especially to Tyniclogs . I've just been told my GTT came back as high end of normal so I'm to be re-tested in 3 weeks times. I know that if I adjusted my diet right now it would really help but I'm finding it so hard to get motivated. It just doesn't seem real and I really hate the thought of giving up my fruit as some days that is about all I fancy. Tyniclogs I hope you get your Thorntons when the time comes!

Managed not to have any sugar yesterday and didn't have sugar poo pains in the night, hurrah! Still had to go at 4am though! Feeling not too big today and excited now that it's the day before. Bit apprehensive about the operation but trying to focus on meeting baby instead. I have been told I should be able to eat as normal after the baby is born and I am craving Thorntons Chocolate Covered Toffee, I'm hoping my DH has got the heavy hints!

Hi tyni i totally emphathise with you! It is so much more difficult the second time huh! Luckily my DD is at nursery today and thursday so i get a break, phew! Ouch re the sugar-poo, sounds very nasty, i bet you can't wait for the Friday binge!! if only it were that simple eh, maybe you can relax the rules a tad then tho.

I have cut down a bit on sugar today and have just spent a small fortune on fresh fruit etc to keep me going, i hope that i can keep it up for the next few weeks.

Hello Everyone, thanks for the updates and I'm glad everyone is getting seen and listened to at least! I had a bad night last night with bad pains which are related to.... having a poo! (Apologies for TMI) I actually had a bit of sugar last night...yes I caved, and had a mini ice lolly. It's been hard now that I'm not having to test my blood sugar and it's all so near. I'm determined to try to be better today and tomorrow as I know I'm going to be tested in hospital and it will affect the babies blood sugar if I go on a bender! I was getting these same bad pains before I cut the sugar so I think they're related to diet. It starts around 3-4am and they continue until I've passed something small and unpleasant, it's agony. The baby is just completely taking over now and I am so uncomfortable I could scream, I am so looking forward to Thursday morning it's untrue. I can't even imagine how I'd be if I had to go to 40 weeks if this is what I feel like at 38...

It doesn't help that my mother has been staying this week and rather than helping me she's actually made loads more work and has been sulking! I just don't have the energy to worry about her. My toddler has been taking against her and it's been causing tension, she has at least taken him to the park for a bit so I am getting a rest. She's announced she's going home on Sunday the day after I'm out hopefully if all goes well.

My husband starts his two week paternity tomorrow and he's been brilliant so I'm looking forward to him being around.

Hi ladies,

Well my result was 6.9, so not classed as GD but pretty close! She said it was rising and i really should be pressing MW for a scan and referral to measure baby again.

I feel a mixture of relief but also concern, it leads to a false sense of security because although i'm not diabetic for the last few weeks i feel i should still be very careful and conscious about the food i eat now.

Anyhow i have an appt on thurs pm to see the MW to find out position, if there is any doubt the MW last night said i should push for a referral for size as it is a big concern of mine.

olivo intresting to see that had i have been 0.2 more i would also be seeing the dietician etc! i'd like to know what happens at your appt. What is Polyhydramnios?

tyni how are you feeling today?

Interesting to hear that i'm only just over the borderline amount. i've just had a call from the diabetic nurse and have an appt with her and the dietician on weds.. i'm glad as i'm starving and worried about every morsel that passes my lips!!
been for a scan today - the baby is measuring a little bit big for this stage and i have polyhydramnios . more worry....

It's all very damning. I felt very depressed during the appointments at the clinic and very much to blame which, yes I am weight-wise but still. Apparently pre-eclampsia is another heightened risk if you're overweight and pg and it would be interesting to know how you're treated if you have that. Is there the same level of shame associated I wonder? Not that I want to find out but you know what I mean...

According to my MW, yes. The NICE guidelines say the same. I was diagnosed early and the nurse rather gleefully painted a very negative picture for me and left me in tears. Treatment of women with `gd is very poor, I think.

No, tell a lie, it was 7.8. But surely that puts me on the border too?

7.8? My highest reading was 7. So why was I down as having GD? I wish to God I had not been so terrified and asked more questions at the time

I never had any sugar either.

olivo that's unusual re no sugar in sample, i would of thought that would be a normal sign of potential GD? I'm not sure tho.

That's what alerted my MW to getting me tested again.

olivio, I think 7.8 is the cut-off for GD so you are pretty borderline IMO.

oh heck, i have had sopme of those symptoms - i was desperate for crappy sugary kids sweets and wanted ribena and lemonade all the time - they were the only things,as well as ice lollies that i could keep down though, when i was being sick. i also sfelt generally unwell but my dd, also 2, went through a long period of not sleeping and i was shattered. I have also been very thirsty.

my results were something like 4.5 post fast and 7.9 2 hrs after glucose drink. what i dont understand is that there's never been sugar in my urine.

tyni, i may ask about the blood test this week, but then if i found it'd been there a long time, i'd feel awful and worry more. can't win!

Thanks ever so tyniclogs i will be sure to let you know the results tomorrow. My first results were 5.7 then 6.7 which are normal apparently, i will be interested to see what they are tomorrow. I have been feeling so tired and quite 'sicky' but not sick or nausea just not well. Yes i am also craving bad foods, not sickly ones but mints and sweets etc rather than cake, i have a sweet tooth but not this bad, then lately i've noticed once i've had a fix of sweet something i feel quite weird, like i shouldn't of eaten them! (or is that just guilt?!!

Be in touch tomorrow xx

Yep, all your symptoms sound familiar, especially craving sugar, I really wanted sweets, not cake or chocolate etc. I also had a white furry tongue (this time) and urine infections (last time) and a general feeling of being 'unwell'. It was my midwife who asked for the 3rd GTT. My results were: 5.9 and 7.6 at 28 weeks and then 5.8 and 9.7 with the third test. I have also had a blood test which determines wether the diabetes was gradual or quite sudden and it shows it came on quite quickly in the last few weeks.

I hope you get the birth you want and are supported with the decision, I know I couldn't go through the labour I had last time again.

Thanks for the reassurance llareggub and I completely understand about not wanting to go through yet another GTT with a baby in tow!

tyniclogs thank you for offering to keep us updated, i am really keen to know about your experience. I do feel the same as you, my DD is also 2.5 so i am in the same frame of mind as in i want to recover quickly so that i can be 'normal' again for DD as well as newborn.

I am also hoping olivo that the GD, if it's confirmed tomorrow, will be another pusher for the ELCS, my Dr's have been saying all along there is no need for me to have a csection, DD was overdue so even tho this baby is also big i might not go so overdue thus baby might be manageable etc etc i have prepared a lot for a VBAC but if i'm honest i will be relieved if the decision was taken out of my hands regarding breech or GD this week.

It's strange how scared i am this time of going into labour, i wasn't last time and am sure it has something to do with me being affected by the long drawn out labour of last time.

Can i ask what symptoms you've had with this GD, after having my all-clear at 28 weeks for GD i have since been craving so much sugar, i have dips if i am late to eat (i feel like i'm going to be sick, pass out, sweaty and hot) so have to quickly munch a banana or bread etc. i am thirsty a lot but wasn't too concerned as DH is too and it's hot. Just wondered if i have been in fact experiencing symptoms of building GD for a few weeks now??

PS my results last time at GTT was 6.7- is that normal?

good luck tyniclogs, i hope it all goes well and look forward to hearing from you after the event!!

My son's sugar was fine after the birth and was monitored for 24 hours. I've not had the GTT since my pregnancy ended as I'm not keen on hanging out at the hospital or the GP's surgery with a newborn at the moment! However I don't think I am diabetic but will get around to it at some point.

I sympathise Heebychick and Olivo. My main anxiety about natural birth this time round was just wether I would actually go into labour naturally as I was induced last time. I couldn't cope with the thought of going so overdue and like you then it all ending in an emergency situation. I suppose I have now been supported by the fact this baby is also so large, the consultant is ok with an elective but wanted me to go as close to 40 weeks as possible. He gave me the choice of next Tuesday (39 weeks) or this Thursday (38 weeks). I could tell he would have prefered next week but I am glad to only have another 5 days to go at this time...he's not the one carrying a bowling ball in his pelvis!

I had a bit of a scare at 36 weeks and ended up in a labour room with strong braxton hicks, I would have tried for a natural birth had I been in labour as the baby was smaller but it made me realise just how affected by the experience I had been. I was very relieved when the contractions stopped and I was able to go home.

I did struggle at first that I was somehow letting the side down by not going with a VBAC but to be honest there are a great many positives that I can see to having an elective especially when you have a toddler at home (mine's now 2.5). I'm not really worried about the recovery as I don't remember it being so bad last time and that was after a brutal 13 hour labour proceeding it. In a way I can cope with physical pain much better than the uncertainty. I know it will be hard and especially with another heavy baby but I'm feeling positive. I shall just take it easy and rely on all the help I can get, mentally I'm much more prepared this time!

I'm happy to let everyone know how things go so please feel free to contact me and I'll update this thread, I'm interested to see how the GD affects the birth, low sugar in the baby etc so can update on that. Thanks for all your comments, it's nice to feel supported.

I am pushing for an Elec- cs this time, also for the issues of control that i didnt have last time, and the trauma of not knowing if DD was alive. the drs are being patient with me but keep coming back to the fact there is ' no reason' i cant attempt a VBAC this time. Having now been diagnosed with GD, I am hoping they may cave in.....
i xant bear the thought of trying a VBAC and ending up with an em-cs.
have my first growth scan on monday so may know a little more about whether the GD is affecting it's size then. does anyone know, do i need a full bladder at this stage?

Wow that is strange as i had exactly the same feelings and reasons for concern - the feeling of being in control. I have had 4 meetings so far with different consultants and they have all 'assured' me that i can give birth naturally and a VBAC is far safer and easier, and i know it probably is but ... there is a big concern of mine that, like last time, i will be there hooked up to a drip with no idea of what is going to happen next for 12 hours and hundreds of midwives, doctors, consultants etc coming in to have a look at me and all the time we were sat (me lying obviously) and in the end not getting anywhere. I got to just 4cm last time and even though i had lots of ideas of being in the pool, relaxed, calm, full of energy etc i really didn't know what was going on and i hate that in life. So nothing i wanted happened and in fact no one told me that she was back to back until i'd been in labour for most of the first day.

Like you i went so overdue last time that i really cannot cope with it being that way this time.

I am going to push for a final scan on Thursday, there is a doubt of baby's position so if they are still in doubt i shall ask for one, to check growth etc and that might give me some backing for changing my mind.

There's a huge part of me that would love a VBAC but i'm so unsure that i will get through without damage to certain areas!

I will also use the GD as a back up too if it's confirmed on monday.

Did you feel that the Dr's were disappointed in your choice? i feel mine would be somehow.

I have heard that an ELCS is so much better than an emergency one, you will have all your energy and you'll be totally prepared.

How old is your other DC (DD or DS?) did you have a concern that the section would make it harder to cope with the older sibling? that was my main concern i think.

I'm really keen to know how you get on and i would love to keep in touch and pick your brains as much as poss - if you don't mind!

After the birth last time I had a lot of questions to ask and ended up writing a letter to the hospital and requesting a meeting to go through how the birth had gone and why it had ended up in an emergency c section. I was treated well and recieved an apology for things not having gone as well as they could have. I asked at the time about an elective c section and was reasssured that it would be ok as the baby had been so large. My fear when I became pregnant again was that I would be told it wasn't possible but didn't face many objections. I stated my case clearly that it was to do with the issue of control and I needed to feel I knew what was going on. The consultant rightly encouraged me to think that I could give birth naturally but I am very glad to know that the pregnancy will end on Thursday and it won't be the scary unknown of last time.

The GD wasn't diagnosed until after the c-section date being set but as all the risks associated with GD are being dealt with by the c-section it seems the best thing in my situation.

I'm now 38 weeks today so I'm not even close to the 42 weeks I was last time, the thought of another 4 weeks carrying this baby just doesn't bear thinking about. I am guessing from how I feel that I am carrying a 10lb baby at least!

I agree about bacon sarnies and eggs for breakfast seemed to give me ok levels. It's definately hard work and I have immense sympathy for those that have diabetes full time.

tyni that is really strange that we are so similar, yes apart from that whopper baby - you grew that one well!! So glad you don't have to have the insulin, and like you say with only a few days to go it must be a relief. How many weeks are you? Did you ask for ELCS straight away or was it decided because if the GD?

I am getting results on Monday so will know more then, i'm very thirsty and keep getting dips if i am late to eat lunch etc, i crave bad foods all the time so if i have to cut all them out i shall struggle i'm sure!
Lots of luck for Thursday - totally understand about the mobility, and it's hard with another DC around huh! i have a very demanding DD which is quite tough.

Interesting to hear about colostrum harvesting, i might ask my hospital on monday about it, have any of you heard about private rooms in hospitals being available for hire/booking? not sure it's at every hospital but it would be nice to have some privacy eh!

Very interesting thoughtforms. I had dd at Epsom so am interested in this for next time.

Hello, I've also got GD - we found out three weeks ago today. I wasn't able to control it by diet (we followed the GI diet), and so have to take Metformin in the morning and evening, which is helping A LOT!

I'm now getting nice low average readings - I'm 31 weeks tomorrow, and baby is right on track for being the right size, though they're monitoring me.

Anyway, my main reason for posting, I found out last week about Colostrum Harvesting - it's something offered at my local hospital for free to any mothers who attend the diabetes clinic, and starts from 36 weeks - there's several classes (I'm at St Helier, Epsom also run these). The idea being, you take your stored colostrum when you get to the hospital, and baby gets it to start with to be able to cope with the sugars, which in turn means you're less likely to have formula having to be an option. It's something my midwife brought up in my antenatal class. Worth mentioning, anyway!

Oh, and if anyone is interested, I can cut and paste a low-GI pizza recipe (it's a bit of a faff to prepare, but hey...) - you can only have two slices, but it's very filling, and I do like it! It's just from my GI Diet book. It keeps well in the fridge too!

If it helps, I found that bacon sarnies or egg on toast was perfect for breakfast. I then had tuna wraps with salad and hummus for lunch, with a healthy meal for dinner. For me, my GD seemed to be at its worst in the morning but OK in the evening.

For snacks I'd have a plate of apple and cheese. The cheese lowers the GI content of the snack, and satisfied my sweet tooth. Sainsburys do a very nice chocolate bar with no added sugar, and I had that as a treat every now and again.

I used to check the labels on food. Anything that had more than 15g per 100g of carbs that turn to sugar was reluctantly put back on the shelf. Your best bet is to avoid processed foods where possible, and eat lots of veg.

i thought that, llareuggub, but had been told to take my iron tabs with juice! will have a look on t'internet for a low GI diet. What with being a fussy veggie with a passion for chocolate, it'll be a testing 10 weeks!!
i dont know how bad it is, they said nothing major to worry about and that diet should control it.

Definitely no to fruit juice! You need slow releasing carbs, I found the low GI diet worked for me. Exercise helps too. TBH if your GD is quite bad then you need insulin. It is nothing you've done, so don't beat yourself up about it.

I am grateful to read everyone's experiences, as i have now been diagnosed with GD. i have growth scan next week and an appointment with the diabetic team. it has only been my second day on a reduced sugar diet and i have struggled. I have no idea really what i should be eating ( obv no biscuits, cakes, ribena and chocolate but do i have to cut down on fruit and fruit juice?) and have been so hungry these two days.

I had GD, which was diagnosed relatively early in my 2nd pregnancy. They also suspect that I had it in my 1st pregnancy, but it was undiagnosed.

I stuck rigidly to the diet they recommended, and as a result my BMI is 6 units lower 7 weeks post-partum than it was at my booking-in appointment.

For me, getting GD has been a real shock to the system, as there is now a 50% increase in the risk of me developing type 2 diabetes later in life. My consultant told me that I can delay it for a considerable number of years by making lifestyle changes, which I am determined to continue doing. I feel so much better without sugar, and I am 1 and a half stones lighter today than I was at the start of my pregnancy. I am also exercising as much as I can.

I'm not convinced by the formula pushing. The NICE guidelines state that breastmilk is more effective in stablising blood sugar in babies born to mothers with GD, but I got the impression that the medical staff preferred formula because they could record intake. With my 1st pregnancy I went with what they told me to do. With my 2nd I expressed lots of colustrum prior to the birth so I could use that if necessary. I didn't need it and DS2 was born weighing 7 pounds 9, so not huge at all.

Hello Heebychick, I had my final appointment at the hospital today which was at the Diabetic Clinic...deep joy! Loads of waiting around. I've been testing my blood sugar 4 times a day for the past two weeks and have had up and down readings. I was interested to see what they'd say. There was a question about whether I would have to inject insulin for the next 6 days as I am going in for a c section on Thursday but the consultant spoke with a collleague and they said it wouldn't make any difference to the baby or me at this stage. She did say however that this is based on hospitals policy so a different hospital may have different guidelines to follow.

I had the results of a blood test which identified that I haven't had the GD for very long so it has definately developed later than the 28 weeks GTT. However I am carrying a very large baby (I'm wagering 10lb +) so something must have been happening along the way.

I asked about the formula feeding and low blood sugar and was told they would only insist on this if the baby was really not feeding on the breast and it's blood sugar was very low.

So, I have the next six days in which to continue to lay off the sugar but at least I no longer have to test my blood sugar as they've already established it's high. I'm starting to really have mobility problems now so c-section day can't come any sooner for me!

Hopefully after that it'll just be a GTT at post 6 weeks to check my levels are back to their normal chocolate munching self!

As for your situation it sounds identical to mine (apart from my 11lb bruiser!) I also had an emergency c-section and back to back. I did really try to think myself through a natural birth but just couldn't mentally get my head round it all again. I'm feeling very happy to be going with the elective this time round.

Hi, i'm not sure if this thread has finished now but wanted to hear more about tyniclogs and how you are doing now?

I am 36+2 and have just had a ++ glucose so have had blood test and have to call on monday for result, same as you if it's over 7 i will have to see GD team to discuss options. We know this baby is big, Head circum was 97th centile as was abdomin at 32 weeks and previous DD was 9lb 12 1/2oz. I had GTT at 28 weeks and all normal but i wonder if it has developed late.

I had to have a EMCS last time due to labour not progressing as large baby which was back to back so have been debating ELCS this time. It's all a littl worrying and i still have no idea how i will give birth! plus it seems to be breech too! grr.

Hi. Thought I'd share my experience. 14 years ago I had Ds1, 10lb 5 oz, low BS, then his temp dropped so was wheeled to ICU, spent 2 days there with a feed tube e and a canula 'in case of infection', ff through the tube and the few meagre drops I managed to express (comment from one nurse: 'is that all?')

I managed to establish full bf subsequently, thanks to NCT counsellor, but I'm sure I overfed him as always anxious about the dangers of low BS.

I did feel awful through that pg but the test at 24 weeks or thereabouts was fine - I did put on 41/2 st and ate a lot of carbs to stave off sickness though.

About a year later the NCT produced some research questioning the fact that large babies were routinely being tested for low BS and subsequently hospitalized. Afair they found that different hospitals each had their own protocols - they had different levels for deciding whether a baby was 'at risk', and different weights as to the cut off point for testing. Basically there was no standardization.

They also claimed that the risks of low BS apply mainly to premmy babies - something to do with a lack of ketones in their system, which full-termers have and which enable them to cope with temporarily low BS.

My recollection of this is somewhat hazy and I couldn't find anything on the current NCT website, so don't know whether anything's changed.

After reading this I decided to have my next child at home, to avoid this happening again. She was 11lb 12oz, and we were told by my GP to 'keep an eye on her' - she was fine.

Incidentally, DS 2 was only 8lb 10oz, but I'd given up sugar by then, and I can vouch for feeling much better as a result. Sorry this is long, I suppose my main point is to vouch for a sugar free diet, and to research in to the whole 'testing big babies for low bs' thing.

Stop apologising Eyeballs! Sounds like you need to talk about it a bit especially if you're planning again. I talked a lot to anyone that would listen after my first and it helped me get my head straight. I know when you say things you can feel as though they are trivial, but to you it feels like the last straw. There were so many things with my own experience such as your 'screen incident' that you look back on and just want to scream about! It sounds like you had a really horrible experience and bewildering if no-one was explaining what was happening.

It's so easy for the professionals (ehem I use the word loosely) to forget the loss of confidence you feel when you've gone through a birth coupled with complete exhaustion and just the shock of the whole thing. I hope your next one will be a better experience.

That's exactly what happened to us forevermore. DD was born at 3.15am and had heel prick tests every few hours. I was left in my room at 9pm with a leaflet on hand expressing and a small bottle. No other instruction. After an hour a mw came back, looked at the empty bottle and asked me if I'd even tried. She then said they'd have to give dd formula otherwise she would get sick.

At this point it had been about 18hrs after dd's birth, I had had no sleep and was terrified of everything that was happening.

By 2am her BS was 1.2 which, yes is low, no question about that. So at 2am the morning after she was born she was rushed down to SCBU where she had a cannula put in. I was brought down at intervals and given an electric pump and told to use it. I asked for a screen because there were parents of other babies around me and it was like I had asked for a bottle of scotch. 'What do you need that for?' I never did manage to express a single drop and dd never latched on.

I went to a bf clinic when dd was four days old and being ff. They were lovely but not very helpful and tbh, my confidence was so dented that I never had any chance of success at bf.

Sorry, I'm waffling again. Like I said, I've tried not to think about all this too much because I feel there was so much that could have been done and wasn't. And in my mind it started in that diabetic clinic.

We aim to TTC in the autumn and I'm not going through that again. I will do everything in my power to make sure that any bf support I can get is in place and easily called upon asap.

That's horrible to hear Forevermore, it really makes me angrey that you weren't supported. Surely breast milk is always going to be the best thing for the baby as is going to be easier for the baby to process? I know I had a terrible time fighting off midwives all insisting they were right and very nearly caved several times due to to my doubts and exhaustion. I hope you don't beat yourself up over it.

They told me to prevent blood sugar levels dropping because baby would still be producing too much insulin to overcompensate for the high sugars in utereo. But not convinced now tbh. I am sure colostrum would do the same? My baby never established bb therafter and not much support, but that's another thread

My messages keep crossing over! Yes I'm interested to find out about this formula feeding for low blood sugar in the baby. I shall ask the Diabetic team next Friday when I see them. As I said I managed to breast feed and will insist on doing so again unless someone gives me a plausable answer.

Sorry to hear that Forevermore, I hope your levels stay ok. I shall be alert to formula feeding as I breast fed the first one soley despite massive resistance from the midwives insisting he would be too hungrey. That was before any mention of Diabetes though.

You're right, exercise plays a big part but really hard to do when you have a massive baby bearing down on your fanjo! In the past few days since starting the diet though I've had more energy to move about and am definately feeling better for it.

can i ask why they have to give formula? and do you have to stick with it or is it possible to bf as well/eventually?

Thanks Olivo, best of luck with things I hope you're in the clear.

Not waffle at all Eyeball! It would appear that my placenta stops processing sugar properly in the last few weeks so it could have been the same for you. What's so frustrating is that you're left to piece together this information yourself, as you say, you're left with feelings of frustration about how things turned out. I certainly have a tonne of feelings about the induction and eventual c - section the first time round which led me having to have CBT about getting pregnant again! Are you planning any more pregnancies?

DD1 also forced on formula and I was also saddened by this. Was hoping it would be so so different this time

Thanks for sharing. I had GTT last time and delivered five weeks early a 6.5 lb baby so probably over ten lb full term for sure. Also at top of growth chart again but so far GTT at 16 weeks normal and one scheduled for 28 weeks. No sugar in urine so far (26 wks). Lost a lot of weight prior to this pregnancy and got fit but now all down the drain since I have placenta previa and can't exercise which the best way to control gestational diabetes. Fingers crossed.

Interesting. On reading your title I thought this was going to mirror my experience with dd. I had a GTT at 28 weeks, booked in because my father is type 2 diabetic but doubtless also because of my high BMI. GTT came back clear, well within the norms. At check ups at 36 and 38 weeks I had ++ glucose in urine and, at 38 weeks baby measured 40cms. Based on these two factors I was sent for another scan and to the diabetic clinic. Baby's abdomen measured a bit big but nothing to worry about apparently.

Was given a BG monitor and told that if levels went over 7 I was to come back in. No other guidance re diet etc was given. I got a 7.8 on Christmas Evening (was given the monitor on Christmas Eve). Based on that alone I was called back to a meeting with diabetic nurse and two consultants who told me in view of my BMI and the scan they would not let me go past 40 weeks as baby would be big.

I was induced and at 40w exactly dd was born after a 4hr 'natural' labour weighing 8.10oz.

DD was monitored for low BS for the first couple of days and given formula as a result of apparent low BS. I have been called back since for a GTT which came back fine. What confuses me was that on sending of for my notes, reasons given for the way things were handled was gestational DM. However, this was never confirmed to me and, as I said, this diagnosis was made on one instance of BG over 7. I felt absolutely fine and had none of the symptoms that you mention.

I'm sorry this is so long - I've never written it down before and, tbh, still have trouble accepting the way things turned out literally overnight in the last days of a textbook pg which resulted in an unwanted induction, and, more importantly greatly contributed to the fact that DD was ff.

Sorry, I've waffled Thank you for sharing your story.

thanks for sharing this, Tyniclogs. I am going for a GTT next week, as the baby is measuring big and my glucose levels were not right. I will keep an eye out for other symptoms as well, just in case.

good luck with your last few days of pg.

I wanted to share my experience on this subject in order to help anyone experiencing the same symptoms I had/have. I've just found out the answers to my questions at 36 weeks pregnant with my second and last child so it may help someone else in future.

My first pregnancy went well up until the final trimester when I started to feel 'ill' couldn't put my finger on what it was but had urine infections and a general feeling of things not being right. I was constantly exhausted and found it really difficult to move in the final weeks. My midwife and Consultant were not concerned and as my GTT tests had both come back ok and my last scan was fine there was nothing more said. I did however always have consistantly high sugar levels in my urine.

I ended up being induced at 42 weeks and delivered an 11lb 10oz (5.5kg) baby) unfortunately it wasn't straight forward ending in an emergency C-section. As I had a urine infection at the time of the birth I passed the infection to my baby and we both ended up in hospital for 7 days after the birth.

After the event I was given no answers as to why the baby had been so big and was left quite frustrated.

When I got pregnant again in October last year although I was classed as 'high risk' because of my last babies size I wasn't booked in to see a consultant until 34 weeks. As I was concerned about the birth and carrying another big baby I pushed for an earlier appointment. I've had both GTT tests and again they have come back ok...on the high side but under the guidelines. I have still had high levels of sugar in my urine. The pregnancy has followed the same pattern except this time I have been scanned later. The Consultant hasn't really been much help other than ordering extra scans.

Basically what has happened is that I have developed Gestational Diabetes after the last GTT test at 28 weeks and this time I have had indicators such as a furry tongue (white fur and a little sore), I've also had the same urine feelings (not exactly infections but uncomfortable) all caused by excess sugar. I have been feeling rubbish and experiencing lower groin pains, especially when trying to poo The extra scans have shown the baby is on the same path as the last (98th percentile) but as I am having an elective C section at 38 weeks I hope he will be smaller.

I am lucky that my midwife ordered an extra GTT test the other week which showed up the Diabetes and I am now under the Diabetic team and am having to test and follow a strict diet for the next 12 days. I just wanted to let people know that I have been feeling so much better for the past few days since following a strict no sugar diet, I have some energy and don't feel 'ill' anymore. I wish I had been a little more forceful in trying to find out the reasons for my discomfort but was told at my last Consultant meeting that my symptoms were just those of being pregnant. Having spoken to the Diabetic team everything now seems extremely clear that I have suffered from some form of sugar overload and whilst not diagnosed as Diabetic earlier I would have been helped by following a stricter diet from the start.

As a result of the Diabetes the baby will need extra mionitoring after the birth and I will need to have another GTT test at 6 weeks post birth to check my blood sugar has returned to normal. I'm just glad to have finally found some answers.

Sorry if this is long but I just wanted to make others aware if they are experiencing anything similar.