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!!

Good luck for next week heart - it's a strange feeling, isn't it, knowing their birth date in advance?

I found recovery fine from csec too - just take it easy, and make sure if you're taking a lot of pain relief to also take lactulose simultaneously. No one told me that and it is NOT a problem you want after an abdominal op.

Also curious about weight

Good luck again!

Wow heart what a whirlwind. I'm so glad everything is sorted and you sound a lot more confident. I too wish you the very best of luck for next week. I recovered really quickly from my last CS. As long as you are reasonably fit & take all the help that's offered it will be good. I was driving again after 3 weeks.

Please let us know how it all goes. From a very selfish point of view, I'm watching with interest as I have my GTT on Thursday. Although my ELCS is scheduled for 37+5 as my last DC also came early at 37 weeks & I was fully dilated by the time they did the EMCS after 2 hours of labour, I'm now wondering if this is actually a bit late.

Thanks for keeping us updated & hope it goes like a dream for you after the stress of the last few weeks.

Good luck heart - how exciting! Sounds like most of you have dates set for the big day. I have my next appointment next week so will be interested to see whether they do the same for me - I think it will depend on my next growth scan.
It's good to hear that those of you who have had c-sections before recovered quickly and it's not as scary as I was thinking.

May I join in?

I'm 32 weeks and not coping well at all with this diagnosis. It's making me anxious and rather blue. I start insulin at night tomorrow, as my fasting numbers are too high. Likely this is because of PCOS/Hashimoto's, as my after-meal numbers are all well within range.

I'd love to hear from others who started insulin injections in another pregnancy. Did you soon after (within 5-10 years) develop Type 2 Diabetes?

Hi stopgap, im only on metformin but im sure it will change to insulin soon as my after food levels are rising :(

Heart it must b a relief to have a date set, not long now :)

Saying a hya to you all from the hospital bed :(

after monitoring last week due to high blood pressure today was my last day at work but had midwife appointment halfway through day. BP was high, was sent for more monitoring at the nearest day unit, then sent to hospital for more monitoring. They are concerned its start of pre eclampsia and im on BP lowering drugs to c if it helps.
and been kept in :(

I got a row after they checked my glucose levels and they were low -saaaake i had lunch at 1pm and had been sent from pillar to post with nothing to eat! I would have eaten anything if i could access it haha.
Needed a wee moan there theres also no tv here so im will b mega moany tomorrow

hi to stopgap. 7 years since my first probable GD pregnancy and 2 years now since my last and not diabetic (yet ) . ... too soon to say I guess...
Try not to worry too much.. I know it seems horrible and scary when you're right in the thick of it, but I have hardly given it a day's thought since the day I gave birth and my levels returned to normal immediately. GL

Hi stopgap I was only on metformin with dd two years ago but was found to have "pre-diabetes" at my postnatal gtt. All this means is yearly monitoring to check that it hasn't become diabetes. I can't do much about avoiding type 2 as I'm already at the lower end of healthy bmi, do exercise etc and can't get much sleep with two young dc. I wonder if I will have type 2 after this pregnancy though as I was diagnosed at 14 weeks this time.

curly sorry they're keeping you in. Hope your bp stabilises soon.

Hi stopgap, I'm already on insulin and prefer it to the tablets to be honest, I find it much easier to control with injections, I'm having levimir on a night and novarapid before meals so 4 times a day, and I'm someone who was petrified of needles! It's the first time iv had gd and I'm on dc5 really hoping it doesn't develop into proper diabetes it would be interesting to know how many people's do develop after gd,

Aww curly hope it isn't pre~e and you get to go home soon, hospital is soo boring and no tv either! Our hospital has these drag down TVs over every bed but they charge about a fiver for 3 hours, anyway hope your better soon

Thanks for the replies :)

Type two diabetes is rife in my family, even though we're all skinny minnies and active (I started this pregnancy at 8 stone 10 pounds and 5'7 and have only put on 16 pounds at 32 weeks). I actually chose the insulin over the alternative offered to me (Glyburide). I start at 10 units tonight, though the nurse thinks I might need more, as it's a conservative dose.

I'm most worried about being induced and needing a c-section, tbh. My first pregnancy was plain sailing, with a really easy birth, and I don't do well with operations after a tough experience with a kidney op ten years ago. It's good to hear positive stories on here about inductions and c-sections, however.

Both my great aunt and aunt developed T2 diabetes after having GD. The former had a 12 pound baby 55 years ago, and the GD went unnoticed, until out popped, in the words of my grandmother, "an absolute whopper". My aunt developed diabetes ten years after the birth of her first son.

heartisaspade, one day I think I'm okay with everything, and then my numbers start doing wacky things. I'm hoping that being on the insulin will regulate not just my fasting numbers but perhaps my sleep as well. I've been up every night the last month for close to four hours, feeling absolutely wired and hot, and I'm wondering if it's because of the GD.

Do you have an induction date set? My midwife says that unless there are issues with pre-eclampsia, my hospital likes to get to 39 weeks at a minimum, which is reassuring.

Hi stopgap

Another GD sufferer on insulin....its rubbish But only 3 weeks & 3 days to go!
Have you checked your blood sugar when you're up during the night? My main symptom when having a hypo is i get really hot....

After my scan showing he is growing on the large side I have been thinking a lot about my labour/delivery. They are keen for me to be induced at 38 weeks but I had a tough birth with my first and the fact that my body is going to be forced into labour is making me worry that this experience will be grim as well and that after hours of labour I will end up with a section anyway.

It is really making me worried and I don't know whether to go with it or to push for a section.

I tentatively broached it before and they dismissed it out of hand saying that as he is my second the birth will likely be quick. However I am getting more and more anxious about it as time goes on. My DD needed help during delivery and she was a healthy size so I am worried about the intervention needed when already he is measuring large.

31 weeks at the moment and being monitored very closely. I will talk it through with my consultant as it was her registrar that I spoke to so I want to hear the consultants views.

Thank you for being so supportive, especially when you are in the thick of things yourself!

In for a quick moan

Got out of hospital on Thursday night, blood glucose has been up and down since :(
Was down at 3.3 before breakfast today (slept till 10.40am and ate at11am) 2hrs later tested and got 8.3!!! So have tried to stay carb free ever since but I'm so tired. Tested my urine with the ketostix and it's showing traces of ketones
Waaaaaah :'(

Stopgap- did your midwife expand on her comment about pre eclampsia? I may be heading for that diagnosis and Dr Google isn't telling me much about procedures/care

Romily is it Monday you see the consultant?

curly are you on long and short acting insulin? I was getting similar readings and my consultant had me lower my long acting and increase my short acting insulin.

I am at the hosp on wednesday and am more confused than ever about the best thing to do.