Is there a gestational diabetes/GTT thread already?

[mrswoz]

Hi all, I thought there might have already been a current thread on this but I can't find it? sorry this is really long!

I am 28w5d with DC3, never had any trouble with glucose in wee samples in previous pregnancies. At both my appt today and my 23 week appt, I had glucose :( I knew they were going to find it, not sure why but just had a hunch this time, I feel like a bag of shite not long after a really carby meal and have noticed a general sensitivity to sugar/physical activity so it was no surprise to me. I also have an aunt with type 2 diabetes.

MW wants me to do a GTT (only at the surgery, involving lucozade and blood tests, so no big deal), but can't fit me in with the practice nurse until 23rd July - MW has had to send me to the nurse as she couldn't get any blood out today for my 28 week bloods, so she's not even going to attempt the GTT!! Have to wait til then for iron levels to be checked also.

Anyway I suppose what I want to know is, I'm assuming it is ok to wait this long, and that it won't be doing my baby any harm? Any hints/tips/observations from personal experience, that you would like to share with me, while I wait? is it likely that I haven't got GD but am near the borderline, hence the sugar sensitivity?

FYI - measuring 28cm (normal) at the moment, BP still fine (this has been raised towards the end of both previous pregnancies).

I should mention, my first baby DS had low blood sugar which was discovered not long after he was born, my husband queried his jitteriness, sleepiness and lack of interest in breastfeeding, I was a bit out of it after emcs and when they tested, his levels were so low it was immediate formula and rushed to neonatal unit, then 2 days of lumbar punctures/X-rays/antibiotics cos they said he had an infection, it was over a weekend and when all the results came back on the Monday they sent him back to me in the postnatal ward and said actually we got it wrong there's nothing wrong with him...this experience was fucking horrendous and there is no way I want a repeat of it, so I am totally freaking out at the possibility of having GD, leading to a baby with low blood sugars, and the above happening again.

I am having an elective, due to both my existing children having been emergency sections. Do all babies born to mothers with GD, have low blood sugars, is it inevitable?

I had GD and me & DS were both given the all clear so its not inevitable that your baby will have a problem. Dsil also had GD last year and she and baby are both fine. I followed a low GI diet after my diagnosis and in all honest only needed to make small changes to what I ate. If I were you I would concentrate on a low GI diet and a bit more exercise and this should help you along. Even if your test comes back ok it's not going to do you any harm to be a bit healthier during pregnancy.

I was measuring large and was induced at 38 weeks - 4 days later I had my gorgeous DS via EMCS (he really didn't want to come out!) and he was a perfect 7lb 5oz. He's 16 weeks today and still measuring exactly on the 50th centile and he's a healthy little boy.

Stay positive - it doesn't have to be a bad thing. I've continued with my better diet even though I have the all clear and feel better than ever :)

I have GD and follow a low carb diet - do a tiny bit on the wii fit after a meal (sometimes). Also had very similar symptoms to you but much earlier - so requested the test at 14 weeks.
Get the GTT test done earlier and the practice phlebotomist (who will be much more experienced) can do the bloods.

Bumping this for quickchat to read, as she has posted about this...

Thanks for your replies suncream and englishgirl - it's great to hear positive outcomes, I am not as worried as I was at first. It was just that hearing that I needed the GTT set off a chain of thought that took me back in time almost exactly 6 years to when DS was born and I freaked out! :). He has just had his 6th birthday over the weekend, so I held back a bit on the sweets and cake, and I feel ok, i am being mindful of when I eat stuff tho and trying to spread out my food intake evenly throughout the day, which seems to be working well.

Had my bloods taken to check iron levels this morning, and only a week to go now til the GTT so I'm sure I'll muddle through til then, got plenty to keep me busy, just want the sun to come out now!