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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Gestational diabetes support thread

859 replies

NoRoomForALittleOne · 29/01/2015 18:12

I thought I'd start a support thread for those of us being tested, just diagnosed or being treated for GDM.

So collapse on a sofa, grab a low carb snack and come and chat about blood tests, finger pricks, diet changes, medication and birth plans...

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TinyTear · 26/02/2015 13:30

wow, my fasting target is 5.5

i just saw my endocrinologist, so as in the past 2 weeks i had only 3 bad readings (and know why) we will keep the same meds for the next 2 weeks...

2 metformin at breakfast, 2 at dinner and 8 units slow release insulin at bedtime...

so i just need to have a GOOD chat with my brain and stop self sabotaging (like when I had chocolate biscuits at work because i came from a bad meeting...)

LIG1979 · 26/02/2015 14:40

That sounds like a good appointment tiny. I don't have much faith in what my hospital are doing hence all the questions as no one tells me anything. (Living in hope that my dr appointment next week means that there is someone who can answer my questions and knows what they are talking about.) Gave up earlier talking to the mw about the scan measurements as she didn't get concerns and like the sonographer said it was all normal.

minipie · 26/02/2015 14:43

rusty oh dear so that's more bad news about us being monitored for 24 hrs post birth as well as the baby Luckily my hospital has an M&S within it and a Sainsbos over the road so I guess DH will be sent off to forage for low GI stuff.

nature I think my hospital does have a milk bank, good point, but I think it may be intended just for NICU babies ... will ask.

Tarka I can understand your crossness about the top ups - I was very keen to bf and was upset when they gave DD a formula tube feed after she was born as they hadn't even talked to me about hand expressing yet - especially as they gave her a stupidly huge amount for her tiny

TinyTear · 26/02/2015 20:09

Section booked!!!
Eeek
And being GD means having to go in the night before to get bloods measured in advance...
Better pack the ear plugs and eye mask...

FruitySalad · 26/02/2015 22:26

Hi minipie, I was surprised about a water birth too, but as long as I'm not hooked up to insulin or induction drip then I can use the pool and be as active as I like.

With regards to dates, they will let me go to my due date and then think of options, but I have a little less amniotic fluid than they would like so that may change things.

Things might change of course....

coastergirl · 27/02/2015 00:02

I had an appointment today at the joint clinic, so I saw a diabetes doctor and an obstetrician in the same appointment. It was my first one as I was only diagnosed last week. I'd been really worried about my sugar levels but the doctor said they followed a pattern they see a lot, quite high in the mornings as that's when hormone levels are at their highest. I've been put on metformin so will see how that goes.

I've also been booked for a c section at almost 39 weeks. This is due to severe anxiety coupled with the GD, which has majorly added to my anxiety about the birth. Also I think that being diagnosed with GD so late has meant that a lot of the damage has already been done re large baby. I'm so relieved, and so impressed with how the NHS have approached my anxiety throughout the pregnancy. I've felt really looked after, including today when the midwife I saw a couple of weeks ago chatted to my husband and i before the appointment and based on that, asked for as few people to be in the appointment as possible, and briefed the consultant beforehand. They've also agreed for my husband to have open access so he won't be made to leave me after the baby arrives. Feeling relieved!

TarkaTheOtter · 27/02/2015 09:22

Great news coaster!

WorkingBling · 27/02/2015 16:15

That's great Coaster.

So, my induction is booked for 39 weeks. Consultant assured me that while they do need to monitor me, I can move around quite a lot until (if) I have an epidural at which point I may need to be a little less active. He said that they don't restrict food etc, but they do monitor and may change their advice during the labour if necessary. I only wanted water last time so I'm not too stressed about that anyway - I just don't want to be hooked up to a drip from the moment I walked through the door. Also, based on my past induction history the doctor agrees that the chances are I won't be having one of these three day pre-labour experiences.

On the colostrum thing, I spoke to the nurse today and she says as I've been successfully hand expressing I don't have to go to the session. She just gave me the syringes to take home. She recommends leaving it at home if possible because it defrosts really quickly and needs to be used quite soon after defrosting. So I'll probably just bring one syringe, in a cooler bag, depending on how much I can get out over the next two weeks. Apparently after I start filling it, as long as I keep it in the fridge I only have to freeze it after 24 hours. They've given me some 1 ml and some 5 ml syringes so we'll see how I get on with those.

I've also settled down on the 1000mg, slow release metformin and it's working well. I had a much bigger lunch than I should have today because I was late to eat it and I was absolutely starving. And my reading was only 6.8. So high, but still acceptable. Kindly, the doctors said I'm actually being too hard on myself re diet, but understood it's because it took me so long to get it right.

WorkingBling · 27/02/2015 16:17

Oh, and Coaster - in my trust I have seen a diabetic specialist and an obstetrician for every appointment. It's a bit overwhelming with all those people in the room, but it has been really good to discuss both elements every time I see the doctor.

TarkaTheOtter · 27/02/2015 17:34

This UNICEF document might be a useful hospital bag addition.

minipie · 27/02/2015 18:27

Tarka thanks for that link, really useful. 2 points of particular interest to me

  1. any test done on baby's blood within 2 hours of birth is meaningless and should not be used as a basis for intervention, since blood glucose drop is normal at this time

  2. test strips don't work for testing newborn blood sugar, a hospital machine is needed (so that suggests they will never accept the idea of early discharge and testing the baby at home)

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 28/02/2015 08:52

So I've been up all night vomiting. My local obstetric unit was on divert but is now open. I may have to go in as I can't tolerate eating or drinking. I suspect that a hypo is inevitable as I took my insulin as normal last night. I'm having lots of Braxton hicks as well so I reckon that shows I'm dehydrated Sad

OP posts:
LIG1979 · 28/02/2015 10:52

Oh no no room. Hope you feel better soon. Hopefully they will get you in so they can keep an eye on you and put you on some iv glucose if needed. can you do extra tests at home to check it doesn't get too low and then get something sugary into you?

minipie · 28/02/2015 13:36

Oh poor you NoRoom. good luck hope you manage to keep something down.

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 28/02/2015 17:20

I've been admitted for rehydration and monitoring Sad

OP posts:
coastergirl · 28/02/2015 18:16

I hope you're ok noroom

The metformin seems to be working really well for me Smile Started taking it last night and my sugars have been really stable ever since.

FruitySalad · 28/02/2015 19:58

Take care NoRoom

WorkingBling · 01/03/2015 00:03

Hey noroom. Hope you are feeling better?

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 01/03/2015 07:43

I'm feeling much better and want to go home! It's funny how being on the maternity ward is making me excited about having the baby though. I think I'd forgotten why I was going through pregnancy until I was surrounded by plastic cots and newborn cries.

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Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 01/03/2015 07:44

Oh and it appears that vomiting lots sent my sugars high rather than low Hmm Go figure...

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minipie · 01/03/2015 17:37

noroom glad you're on the mend. Weird that you got high blood sugar, any idea why?

I have been reading up and am considering refusing induction at 40 weeks assuming I still have blood sugars well under control using diet and all looks normal on the scan on Tues (I wouldn't go to 42 weeks but think I at least would like to be allowed to go a few days over due date - my mum went well over with my and my sis and I am very similar to her). Need to find out a lot more about what fetal monitoring can be done instead and how much it can show ie how much I can offset any risks by extra monitoring. Anyone know? I am conscious of the extra risks of an induced birth for both mother and baby but also the risks of going over....

I think I would also possibly refuse the sliding scale (the glucose/insulin drip) should it be suggested, though that depends on how bad blood sugars are on the tests during birth so will have to decide at the time somehow!

Am I mad?

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 01/03/2015 17:58

I'm home!

As for sliding scale in labour, you only need it during active labour and if blood sugars are outside range of 4-7 (according to NICE guidelines) unless you are a type 1 diabetic.

As for refusing induction, I understand why people do but the reasoning is to avoid the much increased risk of still birth. It is still a small risk and clearly not a forgone conclusion. But, personally, I have been through so much to get this far so I'm accepting induction and therefore don't know about the reliability of monitoring.

OP posts:
longestlurkerever · 01/03/2015 20:51

Hello everyone. Can I join? I have been told my gtt came back with a high reading but am waiting for a call from the diabetes clinic so not really sure what it means yet. Do I definitely have gd or will there be further tests? Will I definitely need consultant led care and an induction or c section?

The Dr told me to avoid sugary foods and carbs like white rice, white bread and pasta, and to avoid fruit juice and fruit - to eat veg instead. But looking at the nhs gd page it suggests carbs like rice and pasta as the basis for a healthy meal, and says to eat lots of fresh fruit and veg, so I am a bit confused. Any tips while I wait for the clinic to get in touch would be appreciated.

Feeling a bit down about it all tbh. I had 3 early miscarriages but thought this pregnancy was going smoothly. Now blaming myself for not keeping in better shape and wondering if I caused the miscarriages. I have pcos but my fasting glucose tests have always come back normal until now. I have one dd born before the Mcs. she was 8lb 9oz. I wasn't given the gtt then despite the odd high glucose reading in my urine samples.

TarkaTheOtter · 01/03/2015 21:10

Hi longest
You won't have any further tests. You will probably be consultant led but to what degree depends upon how severe your GD is/becomes. Some people only see the consultant team, others have shared care. I basically doubled up and had the consultants appts in addition to my regular midwife ones - but I liked my midwife.
Whether you need inducing again depends how severe your GD is. Some people can control with diet alone and are often "allowed" to go to/past due date. If you require medication to control your GD you probably will be recommended for induction at 38/39 weeks.

I expect the dietician will recommend avoiding refined carbs but brown rice and pasta are ok. Lots of people find that limiting carbs altogether helps keep their blood sugars low but you do need some carbs when pregnant. When you see the clinic they will give you a blood sugar monitor and you will soon learn what raises your blood sugar. Personally I would avoid fruit.

I have no idea about the miscarriages, sorry. GD is mostly something that develops later in pregnancy so unless your GD is atypical it probably wasn't a factor.

TarkaTheOtter · 01/03/2015 21:11

Meant to add. C section not normally required unless there are other factors to consider or at maternal request.

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