Large abdominal circumference - possible gestational diabetes - feeling guilty

[TheVoiceOfTreason]

Hi everyone,

Not sure if anyone has had any similar experiences and is able to offer me any insight or reassurance!

I had a 32 week scan yesterday due to possible placenta praevia. That
Turned out to be fine, but apparently my baby's abdominal circumference is only just within normal range, so I'm being tested next week for possible gestational diabetes.

Tbf, the sonographer did say it's still within normal range and that "if it was my baby, I wouldn't worry about it". But I am of course worrying anyway!

I'm also a bit shocked tbh - I have no family history of diabetes, my pre pregnancy BMI was the lower end of average, my weight gain has been normal - other than my bump, my size and shape haven't really changed much, and my urine tests and blood tests up until now were all fine! I've eaten plenty of healthy food but if I'm honest I've had more chocolate bars than I should have done and now I'm worried and feeling guilty that my sweet tooth is going to result in my kid struggling with her weight for life as a result. 😢

Anyone else been through this? What were your experiences? If im good for the remaining seven weeks could that undo any damage I've done so far in terms of potential ongoing risks of childhood weight struggles for my unborn child? Have I made my baby fat?!

Thanks in advance!!

Yes I had this exact same thing. It was too late to do the test for GD so they treated me like I had. So I had to alter my diet and check my blood sugar and go under a consultant.
This is not down to anything you have or haven't done and you and baby will both be fine. If you can't control it with diet you can do it with insulin.
My DD is now 4 and isn't fat, she has always been on the 75th centile and very happy. She was born at 8lbs and 1oz so perfectly normal weight and her blood sugars were tested and she was fine.

In my next pregnancy I got tested for GD at 28 weeks and I was all clear so chances are I didn't have it.

Thank you for your prompt reply and for reassuring me.

You are wonderful.

Have a lovely Christmas xxx

GD isn't something you get from doing something you shouldn't. I had it in both my pregnancies. Both are healthy, robust 11 and 8 years old. The first was controlled through diet although the second required insulin. It got better towards the end though. All will be well, although you will be monitored more during labour. I had more scans than usual too.

Please don’t feel guilty. Remember they are talking a couple of millimetres rather than a huge amount.

Two of my DCs measured large on the AC chart, I had the GD test which was clear each time.

Btw I am overweight and ate loads of rubbish whilst pregnant and gained a lot, my babies were fine.

Hardly anyone seems to get away with having a scan without some measurement or other throwing up cause for concern one way or another but in the vast majority of the time all is fine and the babies are born perfect.

Try not to worry and enjoy your pregnancy.

My DS abdominal circumference was 90th centile too! I was tested for GD as my dad has diabetes but luckily I didn’t have it

When DS was born, he was 7lbs just had a huge belly!

He’s 10 months now and has slimmed down considerably and has lost his little belly

I know it’s hard to do as I also worried a lot when I was pregnant but try not to worry too much about it!

I think growth scans are rubbish half the time. I had a few because my DD was early and very small. This time the baby was apparently huge and would certainly be over 9lbs at 40 weeks. He was born on Thursday at 40+4 weighing a perfectly reasonable 8lbs 1 and he looks perfectly proportioned.
I'd try not to worry. Your baby is in the normal range anyway and the scan could easily be wrong.

TheVoice I had my 28 week scan on Thursday and my baby's tummy, head & femur are all measuring 3 weeks ahead so I am also booked in for a glucose tolerance test next week. I'm usually more of a savoury person but like you have been eating more chocolate/sweets than I normally would so also feel guilty that I've maybe caused this. 😔 Good luck with your results next week 😊.

Oyster Congratulations that your little one has arrived. I saw a few posts from you getting fed up about being overdue so I'm glad that you didn't have too long to wait for their arrival 😊

Please don't feel guilty. My DS measured off the scale (above 99th percentile) from 20 weeks. I was repeatedly tested for gestational diabetes; all negative. Some of us just make large babies!

Hi,
I have the exact same thing - I am 26+3 all other measurements are average except abdominal circumference which is measuring at the very top end of normal. I had the GD test last week and it came back normal - not even borderline. I have also eaten more chocolate in this pregnancy than my other two but don't know what my other two dcs measurements were at this point as I am having extra scans due to a late loss. DC1 was born with a lot of body fat and is now one of the most slim girls of her age group (11 years), so I don't think it will have an impact as baby grows. Like you, I have worried that I have done something wrong but my consultant doesn't seem to be worried at all. There always seems to be something to worry about doesn't there...having had a late loss at 22 weeks, I am constantly on the look out for things going wrong unfortunately. Utter, I am so sorry for your loss x

When I had my daughter in 2014 I was 50kg heavier than I am now, had all the GD tests and passed them all with no issues, she was 6.13lbs when born and is now over a meter tall and skinny like her dad at 3yrs old.

You haven't ruined your kids health - a sweet tooth is just that, you crave sweet items and have probably balanced that out with the healthy eating and exercise you have done.

Can't remember when the test happens but I'm sure all is ok.

Best wishes.

Oh, I'm 7 weeks pregnant tomorrow and well aware of my risks again but since I had a gastric sleeve I'm more aware of diet and GD symptoms - I'm already confirmed under a consultant so don't worry!

You lot are wonderful. Thank you all for sharing - genuinely feel much better now!

AnUtterIdiot - massive hugs to you. I'm so sorry you had to go through that 😔 Xxxx

I had borderline gestational diabetes on my first pregnancy & I felt incredibly guilty.

It was a huge shock as I wasn't overweight etc & I just felt it robbed me of something in my pregnancy, I was distraught at the time. I had a controlled diet to keep it in check.

Right up until my last scan the baby was measuring in the late 90's for head & abdominal circumference. Then a week before labour my consultant felt my bump & said no way was the baby going to be as big as suggested.

I ended up with an 8 lb 3 oz baby, a big baby considering my size but all solid & healthy as could be.

I'm on my second pregnancy now, just a few weeks & I haven't been going crazy over festive period like I usually would as I have a sweet tooth but I am eating a few things & I just don't feel guilty, after Xmas period I'll lay off but I'm not going to deny myself a few nice things.

Best of luck x

My baby had a large abdominal circumference which resolved itself in the later weeks as he grew more in proportion. I had a gestational diabetes test which was negative. Your baby is within normal range so I wouldn't worry. Worst case scenario they will diagnose you with diabetes and help you to manage it. Eating a few too many chocolate bars won't give you diabetes - you either have it or you don't.

Yes, I forgot to mention...after first scan where abdominal circumference was measured upper end of normal, I cut back significantly on sweet things including chocolate, only to find that at my next scan 4 weeks later, it had made no difference...the baby's growth was tracking along a curve and had not jumped wildly neither up or down so I have no answers but hope you find these posts reassuring that you are not alone x

My 32 week growth scan baby was over the top centile line for abdomen (and head) they tested me at 33 weeks for GD even though I was past the cut off for testing but I didn't have it, he is just a big baby I think. They are inducing me in 2 weeks at 39 weeks just Incase he gets too big

You can't cause GD through diet. It just happens unfortunately but if you have got it you'll be at a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life, or so I'm told. The restricted diet isn't actually too bad. Restrict sugar intake and eat plenty of fresh food. The tommys midwives site and diabetes uk have some resources to read up on if your test shows you do have it. Gd is different to other types of diabetes.

Tested yesterday. Results today. No GD!!! 😀 Very happy and relieved but have decided to turn this negative experience into a positive by using it as an inspiration to make more of an effort to ensure our meals are GI balanced in future, cut down on my naughty treats, etc. We are both going to do it (husband has some family history of type 2 diabetes on his side of the family and so wants to manage his risks around that anyway) and so I'm generally feeling quite good about it all.

Many thanks to all of you for your reassurance and support; it's been much appreciated!