late diagnosis of gestational diabetes at 35w - so frustrated by lack of support/information

[Restrainedrabbit]

Had a late GTT at 35 weeks (MW only just noticed I have PCOS and my 2nd DC was 9lbs 13), my levels 2hrs post drink were 8.3 so a diagnosis of GD was made.

Have got two DCs, had two very straightforward homebirths with no problems- DC2 was a 2.5hr labour and 9lbs 13oz (no issues with pushing him out or shoulder dystocia etc).

My issue is this, I have been given no info about what to do because apparently as I am 35weeks and 'nothing can be done bar a fasting test 6 weeks post birth'. No referral to a dietician or consultant etc. I've scared myself silly by scouring the internet for info re: higher risk of stillbirth, pre eclampsia etc etc Have put myself on a no sugar/GI diet as that seems to be the recommended course of action. says birth shopuld be ok if levels well maintained but I have not been asked to check levels thus have no idea if they will be maintained!!!

With regards to the birth I have a serious health anxiety/emetophobia/hospital phobia hence choosing HBs previously so this is a massive deal for me. I noted that the like to induce between 38 and 40weeks but hell will freeze over before I go down the induction route (cascade of intervention and higher likelhood of a c-sec etc).

What have been your experiences, any advice etc??

Bump

Hi,

I had my GTT at 28 weeks, and came back just over the limit, was 7.9 cut off is 7.8, so not as high as yours. But I got called into the hospital the following week and got given a finger pricking thing to test my levels 4 times a day. They have not been to bad, but I have still had 2 extra growth scans and have another one at 36 weeks.

Have they offered you any of this? I would have thought you should have at least had the growth scans. I have been told even though my GD is being controlled without medication, baby has to be born in hospital as they can have too high or too low sugar(can't remember which) when born, which can lead to problems.

Can you call your local hospital and ask to speak to the diabetic midwife? She will be able to answer your questions.

HTH a bit.

disgraceful treatment IMO. My friend was diagnosed at 34 weeks and they had her straight in for growth scans, fingerprick tests, dietitian 2 days after diagnosis and c-sect as scan showed undiagnosed breech baby

If you are not getting any support from the midwife I would try and get an urgent GP appointment - pull the very pregnant, it's an emergency and I don't want to discuss it with the receptionist. Someone should be giving you advice and checking on the size of the baby etc, not to mention monitoring your sugar levels.

Eh? They haven't offered you any monitoring, no sugar monitor, no growth scans, no DBMW, no consultant, nothing?

I'd go as far to say that was negligent. Who told you nothing would be done? Find out the number by phoning your mat hospital the number for the diabetic mw and phone her.

Mine got detected 2 days prior to spontaneous labour at 39+4. Granted I had had high sugar in other bloods and urine for months but nobody noticed it.

I guess what I am trying to say is try not to have kittens over the late diagnosis..... but try and get in touch with your midwife asap in the morning.

What it meant for me was no homebirth/mlu - but a consulatant led ward and a lot (alot) of monitoring in labour.

Wishing you all the very best x

PS there is a very good thread on here - I do not know how to link to it - but it is something along the lines of "support for gestational diabetes" - a very good thread that is well worth a read and may put your mind at rest a little.

Just to bump up and back up the comments here - 35wks is late, but all the more importance in them taking action asap.
The info online is limited, have found the thread on GD on here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/936486-Support-and-help-with-Gestational-Diabetes?pg=1 very useful.

If there isn't a diabetic midwife then ask to be put through to the diabetic dietician or even the diabetes team (they'll know who takes responsibility for GD) for advice/information. Getting a scan asap is really important to check the size of the baby (especially girth) and that the blood flow through the placenta is ok.

Some trusts like to induce all GD women at 38wks so time is of the essence, I'm luckily being allowed to get to 40/40 before being induced (2wks tomorrow - eek!).

I think it may be worth contacting your PCT's Patient Advocacy and Liason service to complain/get your treatment by this midwife looked into or maybe contacting this midwives manager to discuss her handling of your case.

Best of luck with everything xx

At the moment I can't even bear the prospect of an overly medicalised birth, having serious panic attacks at the thought of that :(

They say there is no point doing growth scans at this stage as they are not very accurate the further on you are. I have asked for one but its the consultant that has to request it, the midwife can't - apparently. I have seen the GP and explained my concerns and she sent a fax to the consultant for an appointment but I have not heard anything back yet.

I am so tired and teary, the last thing I want is a battle at this stage of pregnancy :(

Hi Restrain. I was diagnosed with GD a couple of weeks ago. I felt like crying all day for days. Some might say it's an overreaction, but it's just how I felt. It was like my body letting my baby down. I had a caesarean last time and had been really hoping for a VBAC with no induction. I have a hypnobirthday weekend booked too. It's shaken my confidence that I can have a natural birth. I have already had consultant led care up to now because of another endocrine condition, but I think that diabetes means constant monitoring. I'm due in to the hospital next week and although they have been very reluctant to answer any questions up to now, I'm just planning on sitting there until I'm satisfied that I have a very clear picture of what will happen in hospital. I think that their time is the least they can do.

Finally got an appointment with a consultant next Tuesday (will be 36+5 ) will insist on growth scan. Found number for diabetic nurse and she said they won't monitor sugars as it all stabilises out now and not much they can do really. Said if I really want to sort diet then to speak to Dietetic Team.

Midwife very cagey and unhelpful so might request chat with superviser of midwife once I've had my appointment on Tuesday to discuss options.

Having "passed" earlier tests, GD turned up for me at 34 weeks. I was sent straight into a diabetic clinic under consultant care plus diabetic nurse and dietician as well as additional monitoring. I know that you are concerned about medical intervention, so I will add here that I had pre-existing hypertension (which was worsening) and am 302 years old in child-bearing years, but I was monitored very carefully from that point on which was a very good thing in my case. The diabetic consultant also adopted a do-not-pass-go-straight-on-to-insulin approach pretty much immediately. I too was deathly afraid of all things medical involved in this pregnancy, but in the end I found the level of intervention comforting and the whole insulin/finger pricking thing much more awful to imagine than to actually do.

WARNING - long post and I'm not a doctor but I work with them!
Hi there RestrainedRabbit I had to get oral glucose tolerance tested twice after having glycosuria (sugar in my urine) confirmed at midwife appt. The first OGTT was normal but the second (at 35 weeks) was 8.5.

The diagnostic critera for GDM here is 9.1 so noone was very worried about it at such a late stage. My consultant obsetrician thought it was too borderline though and asked me to do yet ANOTHER OGTT at 37 weeks just to be sure.

I'm very lucky because I'm an administrator in the diabetes unit at our local hospital so I just talked to my consultant colleague who told me I had nothing to worry about. His advice was that at such a late stage and if the baby has been measuring normally then there is really no reason to do anything at all. He contacted my OB and said I didn't need to get tested again.

The reason for this is that by 36 wks the placenta is not as efficient as it was and the high sugar levels are likely to have normalised.
My boss was a diabetes specialist nurse for 15 years and really helped my fears (I was very panicky and tearful when I found out) when she told me what the ACTUAL risks were.
High sugar in the mom can mean that the baby goes hypoglycaemic (low blood-sugar) post-birth which could very rarely cause seizures. The other worries would be a high birth weight or placental failure. She told me that because I had ever so slightly high sugar at such a late stage it was VERY unlikely to almost COMPLETELY unlikely that any of this would happen.
I went to my 38 week GP appointment last week and as suspected, my urine test was normal!
Your situation sounds very similar to mine so I hope this has put some of your fears to rest. It can't hurt to eat less sugar of course but please don't panic! Hopefully an appointment with the diabetelogist will put your mind at ease. You can always insist on a quick blood glucose test on your baby post-birth just to be sure he/she's not hypo.
Good luck with it all.
p.s. I share an office with the diabetes dietitian who basically said I could eat a little less carb and sweets because of the urine test results but not to worry too much.

I’m 34weeks pregnant and just found out my baby has a fast heart rate (svt) it’s all been a rush of regular scans 2a week plus heart medication started and now at 35 weeks I’ve just discovered I’ve also got diabetes anyone else experienced anything similar any advice welcome I’ve done the stupid thing of googling everything and scaring myself x

This thread is ancient, but get yourself on Facebook to the Gestational Diabetes Uk Group. Invaluable advice and support. I'm 29 weeks with a second GD pregnancy and altho it can be a bit twee it's been a lifesaver.