The new thread for those with gestational diabetes?

[happycamel]

Just seen that someone has resurrected an old GD support thread. I'm newly diagnosed and would really appreciate a thread where women with GD (or people worried about it) can get support and advice from mothers who had it when they were pg or still have it now.

Jump on board if you feel it's relevant to you.

I've got my first clinic appointment with the diabetic midwife tomorrow so will report back then.

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/gestational-diabetes
If you want to read more about gestational diabetes, we’ve got some information here]]. MNHQ

trixie, couldn't agree with you more. Sorry to hear about your induction.

Interested to hear about your induction experience "Trixie" . "Hastings" , it sounds like you've had a similar experience. I had come to a similar conclusion reading other people's stories on here. I was absolutely determined I wanted to go as late as my body needed with expectant management if necessary.

I was only diagnosed with GD last week but my Conusltant has said that regardless of blood sugar management she'll induce at 40 weeks as that's best for baby even if it isn't what what I want/emotionally what's best for me.

Are you planning to refuse induction this time? How are you balancing it with the risks to the baby or do you think they are over stated?

I kind of feel that I should do what I'm told but I really wanted a natural water birth and the thought of induction or c-section really worries me.

Oh "Harry" you really sound like you're having a rough time of it. Please stick around so we can give you virtual support and lots of unmumsnetty hugs. 25 weeks is horrible because it's a long way in with a fair way to go (sorry, you probably didn't want reminding of that).

Still I guess it will all be worth it once your baby is here. It must be tough when you've got three other kids to look after as well. This is my first and I've already told DH not to expect any more!

Hi - thanks for this thread, I was diagnosed last week at 27 weeks too and was looking for advice on diet etc

Have managed to get through this week with out too many problems blood sugar wise. I guess it is trial and error and I do feel a bit better now. I would be ionterested to know what people eat though.

Got a couple of questions; why are some of you against induction? Are there risks associated with that as well or is it that you feel it is unnatural?

I have to say when they said about increased risks of stillbirth it freaked me out. My consultant also said they wouldn't let me go past 40 weeks. Also the diabetic midwife said that waterbirth is no longer an option due to the monitoring that will need to be done.

Forgot to add - does the babies tummy size reduce in the womb if you manage diet ok? and will it be ok once they are out if their blood sugar levels are ok. My baby measured on the 50 th centile this week for head and length but 97th for tummy circumference

happycamel - babies to arrive lol, its my 2nd lot of twins so ill have 5 kids!! (the eldest is 4 in march!!

I didnt take a tablet at lunch as DS had a birthday party to go to and ive felt ine all day so I know its the tablets making me ill. Im going to battle on for another 2.5 weeks though until I see the consult again and talk to her and see what to do.

Just tired of this pregnancy its been a difficult one with bleeding, cramping, tightenings, HUGE BH already, SPD and sciatica. The girls arrived at 33 weeks so wondering when these will arrive.

I am against induction if the scans and blood sugar readings all indicate that everything is fine, because if the baby is not ready, it won't come and the process is slow and very painful and if it does fail, results in a CS. to be fair, I don't know the medical info behind the claim that GD can increase the risk of stillbirth in overdue babies, only that the longer they stay in there, the bigger they can get hence problems at birth. If the scans etc show baby is getting big, then it seems sensible to follow medical advice HOWEVER, my experience was worse because I was unable to be mobile (drip and continual monitoring) and if I was to go through it again I would be having a VERY long chat with the midwife about how this can be avoided. Radstar I have been discussing the waterbirth issue with my midwife and others on here have said that you CAN be monitored every 15 mins rather than continually but it relies on the MWs coming and doing it rather than just leaving you for ages so they don't like it. Some hospitals also have waterproof monitors. Do push for what you want and ask for proper explanations and alterativs, not just "no". I am hoping for a VBAC waterbirth if the GD stays sufficiently under control that they'll let me go into natural labour.

radstar, I don't have much more to add to what trixie said, I fully agree and share her thoughts on the subject.

The information the OB gives you is for people with diabetes, ie type 1, 2 AND GD and I just don't buy that the risks should be the same for someone who has needed insulin from childhood and someone who has GD and manages to control it with diet and excercise.

So I agree, if baby is normal size and everything else is fine I would not agree to be induced. If OB could give me a reason why induction would be needed for ME personally, then I would obviously consider it, but all they say are things like: we like to induce GD babies when they are big enough".
My OB also said GD babies easier get stressed during labour than normal babies, but how can they tell if it's anything to do with mum having GD or just because they routinly induce GD mums.

There are often problems when babies are induced early, often if baby is not ready baby will not come out which will lead to more and more steps taken to get baby out and GD mums have a very high risk of CS because of this. No wonder GD babies get stressed.

Anyway, this is a big decision everyone needs to take for themselves. I'm not saying it's wrong to agree to induction, just that for me it doesn't feel right. Both my other children were born at 41 weeks so no one will make me believe that this baby will be ready any earlier than that, and they just don't take things like that into consideration.

Hi radstar my consultant is quite firm about inducing at 40 weeks. She said by doing so her stillbirth rate for GD babies is about the same for normal babies.

She said there were two main reasons for doing so:

1. the placenta of woemn with GD fails earlier and can fail rapidly so baby goes from being okay to not being okay in a short space of time.

2)once baby is term there is no advantage in it staying dependent on me, it would be better on its own blood supply because that won't be too high in sugar.

However, I do agree about preferring for me and my baby to be ready to give birth and I'd much prefer not to be induced. I'm praying that I'll go in to labour earlier. I'd love to refuse induction because I was really hoping for a natural water birth with as few drugs as possible (yes, I'm an unrealistic first-timer but I have a lot allergies so the drugs scare me).

The big problem for me is that two of my brothers died shortly after birth and I would find it very hard to refuse induction and then have to tell my mum we'd lost another baby. So I'm going to grit my teeth and do as I'm told.

Many thanks for answering my questions, you have all made valid points.

Happycamel - I'm sorry to hear of your family circumstances, it must be worrying for you. I know of this happening to a couple of people but not so close to me, so sympathise with the difficult choices you may have to make. I hope all goes well for you.

And everyone else of course!

happy thanks for all the comments from your consultant apt - v interesting reading.

Does anyone know if we are restricted on what we can/should eat during labour? I've already brought lucozade energy tablets and drink and lots of cereal bars ready, and I'm only quite borderline GD (not that many off readings with not that much dietary changes). Just wondering if I should avoid these types of things during labour if anyone here knows??

Can I ask why you were referred for a GTT or is it standard procedure where you live?

I have had trace levels of glucose in a couple of my urine tests, but other than that no symptoms of GD. I had a growth scan on Friday for another reason and am growing a reasonable sized baby, but head and stomach lengths are in line with each other, legs are longish - but then I have long legs and my husband is 6 ft 4 inches! I have always presumed that I would have a baby around the 8lb or slightly more purely because of genetics.

Consultants and midwife haven't mentioned that I should be tested, although midwife asked if consultant mentioned anything at last appointment (which he didn't).

Hi Fantail , I was referred due to my family history (my granddad was type 1). There were no traces of sugar in my urine.

No one was more surprised than me when it came back normal because at my 24 weeks scan the proportions were fine but the scan at 31 weeks (after diagnosis) showed baby has a big tummy (I'm notsure if that isn't because they're looking for it though).

Actually, the NICE guidelines are only to refer if a close relative (parent or sibling) are type 2. So the fact that it was my granddad and he was type 1 means that they shouldn't have considered it necessary to refer me.

I've been told that sugar in urine on its own is an unreliable indicator.

Hi snowangels . I've been advised that we should bring snacks that we know are okay with my blood sugar for induction and labour. I'm okay with fruit and dark chocolate but crisps and sweets send me hyper.

If they think you might be heading towards needing a c-section they'll put you on a glucose drip instead (lovely) and may use an insulin drip if you go too far the other way.

Apparently I'll be given the diabetic menu for the hospital food but this is designed for people more or less on bed rest not women that are growing/having babies so I'll need to top up my energy levels with snacks.

As ever, slow release food is best. I thought I might take some no-sugar muesli and a little cool bag with soya milk (I'm dairy free too). Or maybe make some flapjack with the muesli so I can control the sugar in it.

I had the same idea with muesli happy - I've brought some along with plastic bowl and spoon, long life milk and washing up liquid for my hispital bag - just incase hospital can't supply these

Snowangel my diabetes midwife would have had a fit if I brought those snacks along. It is difficult and to be honest she didn't really have any suggestions for things that would be high energy and low sugar - ryvita and homous not going to help much! I drank gallons of diluted no added sugar squash (made big bottles in advance) and didn't eat much once once the induction properly started but I didn't want to.

Hi everyone - mind if I join you?

I was diagnosed with GD at 26 weeks, fairly marginal GTT and so far I've made very minimal diet changes and I've not had one sugar reading outside of the parameters given to me by the hospital.

Weirdly the thing that seems to push my sugar highest is grapes, especially if I eat them in the morning.
Breakfast is definitely the meal that I have the highest readings after. I can eat a chocolate cake in the afternoon and it has less effect than muesli in the morning.

Birth-wise, it will be either a VBAC or an ELCS. My consultant has agreed to a section if I want one, which I was adamant I did initially but I'm coming around to the idea of a VBAC. I have a growth scan next week (I'll be 33+4) so we will see what that brings. Baby has been transverse until the last few days and is breech now I think, so it may well be a section which I won't be unhappy about.

I agree with everything said about induction - I was induced with DS, and it was slow, painful, exhausting and ended in an EMCS.

I didn't eat anything once I was induced, just had no appetite whatsoever.

i Ali - what a fantastic name. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with induction too. I'm really trying to stay positive because I'm going to have to agree to it (see post earlier on) if necessary but everything I've read on Mumsnet makes me want to refuse.

I find breakfast the hardest to control too. Peanut butter on granary toast and porridge really ought not = 9.2. I think stres makes it worse, I'm better when I'm chilled out in the evening or at weekends. I had a week of annual leave last week and breakfast was fine too.

Trixie I've been asked to take in snacks for the 48 hours after the birth that they'll keep me in as well as after induction. I see what you mean about the cereal bowl though, maybe I'll stick to homemade flapjack. My midwife did say induction might take 3 days though. Was it quicker than that for you?

happy stress definately makes mine worse. Also, my diabetic nurse said post breakfast is the hardest to get lower as you get some kind of hormone influx when you wake up which can make it higher.

Induction taking 3 days . I'm seeing consultant next thurs about an induction plan and am a bit about the whole thing. My diabetic nurse recommended fruit/yoghurt for snacks suring labour (not necessarily the easiest to transport and keep for long periods before eating then!) and things like ryvita/crackers.

thanks happy :)

I'm glad it isn't just me with breakfast, although yesterday I had a stoneground wholemeal roll with bacon and that = 5.2!

3 days sounds a long time for induction, I know it can take a while because it depends how ready your body is when you are induced.
If it helps - my Mum was induced with me, and with one of my brothers and had a straightforward time with both of us.

I had a weird thing last night, which I'm going to phone the hospital about tomorrow but wondered if any of you ladies could offer any advice in the meantime.
Had takeaway pizza for dinner, which hasn't caused any problems in the past. Sugar 1 hour later was 6.4, so fine. I had done my 3 tests for the day but decided to test again before bed - which was another 3 hours later. I had eaten nothing in between, but sugar was 8.4! I'm really and a bit worried by that.

Any ideas?

Hi Ali , that does sound weird. Although 8.4 isn't off-the-scale high (my diabetic midwife said to call about 3 in a row over 7.9 (or 5.9 before breakfast) or 1 over 10).

But to go up by so much when you haven't eaten anything more is odd. I guess maybe some of the energy was slow release but there was still quite a lot of it or maybe your body produced enough insulin initially and then couldn't maintain the level needed. I'm speculating though, I don't really know what I'm talking about!

Regarding the 3 days thing. They said they'd try a tampon thing with hormones in it first and leave me for up to 24 hours, then at least 2 lots of pessaries, 12 hours apart and then give me a 12 hour rest and then start me on sintocynon so from being admitted to established labour could be 3 days. Then after the birth they'll keep me in for at least 48 hours, longer if baby or I need help with blood sugar control so to budget for a week in a private room at £100 a night.

Glad to hear your family has positive experience with induction. They got a lady to come along to the diabetic clinic and tell us about her experience of induction (v straightforward, 1 x tampon and 1 x pessary). I just worry that I'm going to be allergic to one of the chemicals because I often have problems like that. I think I'll just keeping hoping baby decides to put in an appearance early!

BTW, quick question. Have any of you experienced oral thrush?

The front of my tongue has gone really pink with white ridges and it feels a bit burnt. I've googled and it seems oral thrush is common with diabetes because of the suppressed immune system.

I mean to ask my midwife about it last week but totally forgot. I'm going to call the diabetic clinic this week but wondered if any of you have experienced this and know what we're allowed to use to treat it.

Thanks

happy - that was all I could think of, was that the protein and fat had slowed the release of the carbs sufficiently that the 1 hour figure looked fine. I'm sure there are times when the peak comes later, but so much higher, so much later did seem pretty weird.

I've no advice on the thrush I'm afraid in terms of what you can treat with. I know that low iron levels can contribute to the conditions that allow thrush to thrive, so perhaps a nice steak followed by yoghurt?! :)
I think thrush of all kinds in pregnancy is pretty common though, so maybe if you ring your GP they will prescribe you something without you actually needing an appointment?

Steak and yoghurt sounds yum. Maybe not on the same plate of course, but definitely worth a go.

I've just been really naughty. We went out for an buffet at the local Indian this afternoon, lovely meal and came in a 6.4. DH went out to play Halo with some friends at 19:30 but I'm too shattered and preferred to veg on the sofa and MN for a bit. In the last two hours I've eaten half a tub of sorbet. Ooops. I know it's bad cos it's basically lemon juice, sugar and water but I have had it v. slowly.

I've done my 4 blood tests today so don't have to find out how bad I've been but I am feeling a bit guilty and rebellious now. I had this stupid idea that I could rebel a bit so long as no one saw and I didn't have to test . It's not really point though is it. I know I'm supposed to try to keep my sugars under control all the time for the good of the baby but I've got 8 weeks to go and it feels like ages. Must have a new start tomorrow. Feel free to shout at me!