Loosing wieght whilst pregnant? Anything to do with Gestational Diabetes?

[NatalieJane]

I was a size 12/14 when I got pregnant, by 6 weeks gone I was already showing to the point where strangers were asking when I was due, I was alomst convinced we were having twins until the first scan, which showed one healthy good sized baby, now I coming up to 21 weeks, everything still seems fine, I look like I am due any day according to others, but everywhere else except my bump I am loosing weight, I have had to take a bracelet off that I have worn for years because it kept slipping off my hand, my wedding rings are slipping off (until later in the day when my hands swell up!) and clothes are getting big around my boobs and legs. Should I be worried about loosing the weight? I am in no way trying to diet or anything, infact my craving has been for anything with chocolate in it, and I have probably given in a few times more than I should have, and am also eating breakfast lunch and dinner whereas I can't normally eat three meals a day.

The reason I am asking if it has anything to do with GD is because I have recieved an appointment through for a test to see I have it, although I have no idea why they want me to take the test, except that it might be to do with the size of my bump?

My scan is tomorrow so will obviously ask then, but wondered if any of you had any ideas?

TIA

The test will be because of the size of your baby at the scan/size of your bump now because GD can mean a big baby (and vice versa I guess!)

Not sure about the losing weight htough. Does your midwife weigh you at antenatal appointments? Is she worried?

I was weighed at the booking in appointment, but not since, it has only been really the last month or so I have started loosing the weight. Midwife is next to useless so I haven't spoken to her about it.

It can be a sign of GD as I was tested during pg because I was losing weight too and the baby was measuring big in the second trimester - in the end all was fine - no GD, a healthy 8lb baby and a thinner me and no good reason. I am attributing it to metabolic changes. You might be tested and I hope all is well.

Meant to say, my sister had GD in her first pregnancy, I don't know if that is the reason they have put me in for the test? But they didn't test me for it in my last pregnancy.

How big was your last baby? That can mean they put you in for a GTTest. I think the apparent generous size of this baby would be enough for them to recommend a test TBH.

He was only 7lb 15oz, and he was over due, so he wasn't huge.

Hmm, I know that unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of normal diabetes. Are you high-risk for type II diabetes? (Lots of family members with it?) How do you feel? Are you very thirsty and peeing a lot?

Have you had sugar found in your urine?

Are you eating well? Or maybe has the heat put you off your food?

I would be concerned about the weight loss, frankly, and would go see a midwife about it.

Excuse the long post...

For about a year or so before I got pregnant, I lost about a stone a half with out really doing anything, I had conciously stopping piling my plate up at dinner time, so I wasn't eating as much at meals but I still had 2-3 bottles of wine a week and ate crisps most days, then I got pregnant obviously the wine went out of the window, and I went through a stage of wanting to eat nothing but fruit, strawberries dipped in coleslaw was about the lowest point! Then it changed to chocolate and I have gone off certain meats, but aside from pregnancy cravings I have been eating more of everything, as I said three full meals a day and other snacks in between.

I have been drinking lots which I put down to the heat, but not peeing any more than in my last pregnancy. I find I am in a bit of a cycle, day 1 I drink lots (maybe 4-5 litres of water/milk/juice), day 2 my bump is absolutely enormous, then day 3 it isn't quite as stretched and then I go back to day 1 and am drinking loads again. Almost as though I am storing it all up for a few days and then it eventually gets used so I have to stock back up! On day 2 and 3 I am still drinking quite a bit maybe 2-3 litres.

No members of family have any type of diabetes, as I said my sister had GD but as you would expect it went as soon as she gave birth.

Have never knowingly had suger in my wee.

I feel very tired, although I am pregnant! I have slightly low blood presure so sometimes get dizzy, other than that I am fine.

Sugar even!

Hmm, that's not that worrisome, I guess. It does sound like you're drinking a lot of water. Presumably the midwives have been doing the normal pee tests for you?

Yes, but with it being my second I have only seen the midwife twice, once at 10 weeks, and once at 17 weeks.

Hmm, and has the weight loss been the same throughout, or just gotten worse recently? If it's gotten worse, I would go see the midwife and pee on a stick.

The GD test they generally do, which is called a GTT, is a horrible experience, btw. Lots of fasting and gross things to drink and needles. Gah.

The weight loss has only been in the last month or so, I don't think it is dramatic - no one has mentioned that I have lost weight, well except DH, but it is very noticable to me if that makes sense? It is my wrists more than anything, they just look like bones, even years ago when I was a size 8 my wrists were never this skinny.

That sounds like what they have booked me in for, it says I'm not to eat or drink anything from the night before, then when I get there in the morning they will take some blood, then give me a drink with a known amount of sugar in it, and then two and half hours later they will take a second lot of blood and compare the two samples to see how my body reacted to the sugar. I am not bothered by needles at all, and even if the drink tastes horrible I expect that 12 hours with out liquid will have me drinking just about anything!

The other thing I don't get about the test, is that I am due in Novemeber, the test is in September, if they thought something was wrong, why leave it that late before finding out?

Hmm, I would call your midwife and go pee on a stick now, and make sure you're ok.

I don't know that much about GD, but I think a lot of their concern is making sure the baby is ok near the end. I think.

I would love to ring my midwife and get it sorted one way or the other, but twice now I have needed to speak to my midwife over the phone but due to the way our system works, I've never been able to speak to any midwife let alone my own one!

As I said I have my scan tomorrow, I don't expect the sonographer(sp?) will be able to help much, but the scan unit is right next to the central midwife unit, so they will hopefully let me duck in and speak to someone there.

Thanks for your help though

I would go talk to someone and express your concern. You just need to pee in a cup, they use a dipstick, and you can know right away if you've got GD.

some areas send you for a GTT as standard regardless of the size of bump, etc. I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy but it only came up in blood tests, I never had sugar in my urine samples. I got my GTT around 28 weeks the last time and will probably go around the same time this time (I am due at the start of October). The GTT is no big deal IMO although the waiting around is a pain.

At the moment (27weeks) I am half a stone lighter than I was when I first got pregnant but this happened in my last pregnancy too as being pregnant seems to affect my appetite - although I still manage to eat crisps, chocolate on occasion!! Your bump may just look big as you are quite small in other areas.

I would just speak to your midwife at your next ante-natal appointment. If you feel well and your baby is growing at a normal rate then I am sure you are doing just fine. take care!!