Gestational Diabetes - Large abdominal circumference

[PamRavenscroft]

Hi, I'm 31 weeks and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a few weeks ago. I'm trying to control with diet & exercise but my fasting levels are often very slightly over (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). My hospital has a very low cut off point of 5.0 for fasting. I was prescribed metformin but asked to wait till the results of my growth scan, which I had today, before I started taking it. All baby's measurements were nice & normal except the abdominal circumference which was on the 95th percentile. I am trying to work out the significance of this - obviously it means the sugar is going to the baby, but other than its tummy it isn't 'big'. I hate taking medication when pregnant but am I being an idiot for not? As my levels are so borderline I have been reluctant to start on meds but after today's scan I just don't know what to think. Any advice, previous experience etc. would be hugely appreciated! I lurk on the Jan 2014 thread but haven't posted yet - I'm hoping Tarka will see this!!

[Peanutsmummy2be]

Im 33 weeks too Pam & get scanned again at 36 weeks. My consultant has me booked in for induction at 38 weeks.....30th dec & has said go for vag birth if all stays same.
Fingers crossed for you

[TarkaTheOtter]

heart I think you should have been offered one too with a first-degree relative who is type 2.
In my first pregnancy I had one at 28 weeks even though my bmi was only 20 because my mum is type 2.
But don't worry because gd doesn't really kick in for most people until 24-28 weeks. So your body was probably perfectly able to deal with the sugar you are early on.

Have you considered getting your dh to try the urine strips so you can see what's normal? It isn't hugely surprising that porridge gives sugar in urine even without gd. Especially if you are making it with milk as lactose can increase blood sugars.

[imnotalone]

I know what you mean about feeling guilty but ultimately there is nothing you can do to prevent it. My sample wasn't good today - +++ so they have referred me for another GTT next week. It could still of course be negative but that coupled with the large abdo makes me wonder.

I've already had my GTT at 26 weeks which was negative so if I have developed it, it has been since then.

Anyway, I'm not going to try not to worry too much until the test & eat as well as I can...

[TarkaTheOtter]

heart I had gd when pregnant with dd but not til later in the pregnancy. I am borderline type 2 diabetic when not pregnant now so it was sort of inevitable this time. Didn't expect to have it as early as 14weeks though - it's been a long cake free pregnancy!
I don't think GD really has hidden effects so don't worry about the sugar you have eaten previously so long as baby looking ok in scans. Baby will also be monitored after birth for hypoglycemia so you'll know that it's all ok and if not it's easily treated.

[curlywurlyllass]

Heart..... I've gained 20kg and I'm 33weeks :( but at least 2kg is baby right now haha
Good luck for tomorrow's GTT

My dad had me on his blood pressure monitor thingy and clocked me at /99 then /96
He checked himself and got his normal reading- so it looks like I will need to prepare for more meds when I go in for checks tomorrow. Charging up the kindle so I can hopefully mumsnet while I'm hooked up to the trace
:(

Takes you really do deserve a medal- all this time without cakes, and you are so upbeat. Cake or baby- that is now my mantra said through gritted teeth as the other half munches his way through a box of cadburys Heroes

[Romily]

heading to my next growth scan today, fingers crossed he is average!

[TarkaTheOtter]

Good luck Romily!

[PamRavenscroft]

Good luck!

[Romily]

Totally gutted. My 30 week scan shows that he is measuring above the 95th percentile and they are concerned. My long term bloods are within range and I am just so upset that he is measuring large. I know there is still a while to go but I'm still worried.

[terilou87]

Aww romily, don't be worried too much( easier said than done I know), atleast your getting extra scans to keep an eye on things, and you never know, growth scans are notoriously inaccurate sometimes.
It will be interesting to find out the weights of all our babies just to see how accurate the scans were. At my last scan(32+5) they said my little man weighed approx 4lb 7

[Romily]

Heart sorry to hear your hospital was not on the ball. Maybe once they have run the tests and done the scan you can talk to them about your birth options.

I am a bit calmer now. Just need to see how the next scan goes and keep everything crossed that he grows at a more sensible pace.

[imnotalone]

heart it's a good job you got them to move the appointment up. Sorry to hear your diagnosis but at least you know for sure now. I know it's easier said than done but you have to try and put the last few weeks behind you to make sure it doesn't cloud the last few weeks of your pregnancy. What's done is done and you can't change it but you can plan how you're going to take care of yourself for the next few weeks.

I'm really sorry that your birth plans have to change so suddenly. The hospital have a lot to answer for. Hopefully they will give you some good advice tomorrow.

romily sorry to hear about your scan. I hope things do even out for you. I'm used to growing big babies & they've estimated mine at being 4lb 12 at 33 weeks so it's not so much of a shock for me. I hope things even out for you.

[curlywurlyllass]

Romily have theybooked u in for another growth scan? At 29weeks my lad measured 90th centile. 4 weeks later, after positive GTT, diet changes and starting metformin he is now measuring just below 50th centile! I'm back for another growth scan at 35weeks

Heart I only had the fasting and 2hr bloods tested (i failed the fasting levels) so don't know what my levels would have beenafter an hour. It's shocking they missed your family history! Just do your best with your diet

Terilou and imnotalone very similar weights for us. My lad was guesstimated to be 4lb6/7 (32+5) what would we be looking at weight wise if left past 38 weeks?

[terilou87]

CurlyI think I worked it out if ds carries on the same centile if I had him at 40 weeks he would be 9lb ish.
My previous babies were ds 8lb1 at 41+6 gest
Dd 7lb7 at 39 wk
dd 7lb3 at 41 wk
Ds 8lb3 at 41+5wk
This is the first time iv had gd all my others were average weight but hospital classed dc3 as small for gestational age, dunno how they figured that tho, iv seen 5 lb full term babies

So what size clothes are you all taking to hospital? I'm planning on taking a mix of newborn and 0-3 months I don't want to get there and all his clothes be too small if he is big, but then if he isn't as big I don't want him in clothes that bury him. A friend of mine recently had her baby weighing 10lb7 and none of his newborn clothes fit??
This gd is a pain in ass. I feel lucky not to have it all the time, I really feel for people who are diabetic all the time! It's a kick up the ass tho to sort out my diet and try and do something about it now rather than later.

[Romily]

Curly I have been booked in for fortnightly scans at the moment and they might increase them to weekly later on.

[imnotalone]

heart I'm not going to tell you about my first experience with the 10lb DC as medical negligence played a large part and I don't want you to think its indicative of large babies (terilou he went straight into 0-3)

DC2 was 7.5 lb at 37 weeks - was supposed to be ELCS but ended up as EMCS due to going into labour early.

If this DC stays where their supposed to, they'll be delivered by ELCS at just under 38 weeks due to previous complications.

It's totally a personal thing but I never grieved not having a 'natural' birth. I genuinely just wanted the safest delivery possible for me and the baby. I understand that you will feel differently having other options thrust upon you at such short notice.

[Bigfingers]

heartis i was diagnosed at 36w with GD in my third pg. I had GTTs at 28 and 32w in my second and third pgs as DC1 was 10lb 6oz. at 35w I had glucose urine and so mw ordered another GTT, I had to start immediate insulin and last 3 weeks of pg I found quite stressful, so can't imagine how hard for those who have to inject throughout ..

I had a blood test which confirmed onset at around 33w. I strongly suspect this happened in my first two pregnancies but because I'd had the 32w GTT when I got ++ urine I remember my (different) mw just dismissed it. DC2 was 11lb... i'm pretty sure in retrospect he glucose crashed in the first few days but he is 3.5 now and fine

[Bigfingers]

I don't mind you asking but I don't want to worry you...!

I had big problems with dc1. dc2 I went for a natural as I was scared of csec, still had a problem (shoulder dystocia) but much milder than dc1 and overall a v positive experience. dc3 they told me that they would either induce me at 38.5 ( I think if they catch it earlier they say 38w with GD babies, but because I only started insulin at 36w they wanted to give Dc3 chance to become less glucose dependent, so I had to wait it longer. dc3 was csec. it was fine. he was 9lb 8.

I didn't know at the time he was glucose crashing, as I didn't know I'd probably had Gd. I knew he was extremely dopey, very hard to wake/keep awake for feeds, and told the MWs in the hospital that, and given he was 11lb you'd think they could have put 2+2 together... as soon as I was diagnosed in my third pg I realised what prob happened the first two times.