Gestational diabetes - Advice & Reassurance Pls

[AR23]

Hi,

I am 29 weeks today and a few days ago at my 28 week midwife appointment I found out I have gestational diabetes (my sugar levels were 8.4 and the midwife said the cut off level is 7.8).

So firstly I'm really upset and sad, it came as a bit of a shock as I've just turned 31, I'm slim, exercise regularly and eat quite healthily.

I'm still waiting on receiving my letter for the next steps, which I think are attending a gestational diabetes clinic where I'll be given more information etc.

I'm just looking for advice and some reassurance until then I guess. Called the midwife and she wasn't able to help much as she wasn't a specialist on the area. But from what I know so far, I should avoid white bread, pasta, white rice....desserts, biscuits ad sugary things, and fruits that are quite citric.

Are bananas ok? And porridge?

I had the glucose test done at week 27, got the results at week 28, and today I'm week 29....so it's already been 2 weeks I've had it without me knowing, in which time, I've had the occasional chocolates, cakes etc, so I'm a bit worried. The midwife said it can lead to large babies being born....and effectively high sugar level is like poison.....so I'm really scared now.

@Pip231018

Hey, I’ve had ketones in my urine tests for my last two appointments, I only started getting them when I found out I had GD, I guess we get scared and eat less. My ketones were +1 (whatever that means) and my consultant said it was nothing to worry about as it’s so minor.

Since then I’ve tried to snack a bit more throughout the day. Had my consultant appointment today and ketones were absolutely done 🙂.

Just snack more in between your meals, a Granny Smith Apple, cucumber/carrot sticks with cream cheese, Greek yoghurt etc and you should be fine. Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I’ve had 2 missed miscarriages before so with this pregnancy I was put on aspirin and was told to stop at week 36.

Then when I found out I had GD, the consultant told me to continue aspirin until week 37. I’m can’t remember if the first consultant I met had said to continue with aspirin right through to delivery or to stop at week 37. But I had another appointment with a consultant today and since I am 37 weeks today, I have been told to come off the aspirin now.

I am being induced at week 38, so have been told to come off it to reduce risk of bleeding during labour.

I feel a bit scared coming off it (partly because I can’t remember if I’ve been given two different pieces of advice), so just wanted to know if there is anyone else with GD who was also put on aspirin, and also recommended to stop it around week 37?

@AR23 Hey, thanks for that. I just feel so full so I don't really want to eat because I don't feel like my body wants the food and I'm not hungry. I really need to try to eat more, it's a hard balance. I tend to wake up in the night feeling sick.

I am on Asprin, I was told to take it until 37 weeks. My sister too was on asprin with GD and we were both advised to stop at 37 weeks. My friend is taking blood thinners due a medical history of clotting and up until now, she too has to to take aspirin but will stop injections at 37 weeks ahead of a scheduled section.

X

@Pip231018 aww bless, not sure how many keytones you have, but if it’s only 1+ then I wouldn’t worry, my consultant told me to the same. In fact they didn’t even bring it up because they weren’t concerned about it, it’s only because I asked as it was written in my notes.

Also thanks for the info re the aspirin 🙂

Hi All,

Totally unrelated to previous posts, sorry. Has anyone had any problems or experience with amniotic fluid?

I've had my scan today and I don't have as much as expected or that they would like. I've got another scan next week which hopefully doesn't show a decrease. I have to drink as much water as I can and lie on my side every day for 2 hours every day, hoping that this can boost my fluid.

I've read loads of google and found some really really old Mumsnet threads, it's not all doom and gloom but I'd rather not be in this situation as there are associated risks. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of this.

Thanks. X

@Pip231018 sorry, not had any experience of this, was this picked up on a growth scan? I've got my first extra scan in a weeks time.

@mintbear Hey, yes just a routine growth scan. I have a fluid scan next week and my growth scan brought forward to 30 weeks. Depending on what happens will dictate if I end up with weekly scans, which is likely. There is a greater chance of a scheduled section, potentially as early as 36 weeks. X

@Pip231018 how do you feel about the section? I'm having one for lots of reasons but I'm starting to freak out about it. Sounds like they're closely monitoring you which is good, must be a lot to take on, I've not heard of having too little fluid and i didn't realise it would have such an effect. Good thing for gd scans otherwise it might not have been picked up x

@mintbear There is so much that can happen. I suppose you don't always hear about them until it happens to you. Generally diabetes can make you produce too much fluid, but I'm the other way.
I'm ok with having a section, I'd be nervous on the day. But, there is the chance I could go for a scan and they don't let me go home but rather send me straight to labour ward (it happened to my sisters friend 😬) if my levels drop even more.
It is scary, but I'm more scared of the risks that come with low fluid and diabetes. I'd do anything just as long as it was the best thing for her x

I had the opposite and had too much last week. Went back today and back to normal :) try not to worry x

Hi.

Has anyone experienced slower growth at 32 weeks?

I'm 31+5 and baby is measuring slightly smaller. The consultant said there is plenty of time for the baby to catch up but there is also a chance I'm not getting enough nutrients.

Thanks. X

A trace of sugar was found in my urine sample at my last midwife appointment, which I’m told could be a sign that I have GD. I don’t understand - I have no symptoms whatsoever and am eating as normal. Why would I need to make any changes to my diet when I feel absolutely fine? Surely if I had GD I’d have noticed some sort of symptoms by now?

@Pip231018 hey. Sorry, I've not experienced this, I'm 30wk today and at the last growth scan two weeks ago I was measuring 97th%+ for everything. I have another scan today so I'll let you know if the growth has slowed down.

They put me on metformin two weeks ago, even though all my levels were 'perfect' and under the limits, they just wanted to do what they could to try and stop baby getting any bigger. Even though baby is proportionately big (I think, just inherently big).

I hear lots of women say their growth scans were inaccurate. Do you take pregnancy vitamins? Have they recommended you change anything?

@ncagainforfeb I didn't have any symptoms but tested positive for gd, also it doesn't matter what you eat, even if you're eating the same as what you did before, it's the way in which you body is processing the sugar when pregnant that changes.

Hi ladies, just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped contribute to this thread. I had a beautiful healthy baby girl 2 weeks ago and as scary and stressful gd was, I managed to get through it!

@AR23 awww so pleased for you, I was just thinking you must have had your baby by now. Congratulations!

I'm now on a slightly different metformin which should be kinder to my stomach, I've been so sick. Baby was the same in growth terms so I'm sorry I cannot add any helpful advice

@mintbear Hey, I didn't get any notifications that you'd replied - sorry!
I've been put on medication today, the baby is still a little small. My sugars in the morning just don't cooperate - they are high even when I've not eaten.
I've heard metformin makes you feel sick - not looking forward to that. Hope you are ok x

@Pip231018 good luck with metformin, I know other people who have been put on it and it's been fine so I hope it works for you.
My reading are all still under the limits eg today- 3.8 fasting 5.7 post bfast 4.7 post lunch. I'm eating crap too as I'm still sick so plain carbs etc but I'm not eating sugaring things.
How many weeks are you? Have they spoken to you about early induction/c section?

@mintbear I had my first one last night and felt sick but I also suffer from terrible heartburn so I couldn't tell if it was a mixture of the two. I had to sleep propped right up as my mouth was watering and I felt grim.

My readings aren't bad after meals, they thought I wasn't eating enough carbs so sent me to the dietician and that didn't help at all, I'd already been doing it for 4 weeks by that point. I ate one roast potato on Sunday (far less than recommended) and my sugars were not having it. Then I've noticed things that I could tolerate can't be tolerated any more. It's like I can't have any pasta, bread, rice, potatoes at all.

I've got to the point where I don't feel like eating as much because I'm a bit bored. I've eaten a lot of chicken and halloumi. My creativity is in short supply as the discomfort increases it would seem. My go to snack is peanut butter - I had it for dinner last night with a babybel.

I have elected for a section because of the problems I've had, lack of fluid, GD, too small. I just want to be able to control something but my consultant wouldn't agree to it yesterday. They said they will book it at 36 weeks but also said, that their opinion on my delivery could change given her size etc. I feel like lots of things happen to you and you get very little say. I know 100% I don't want to be induced. Tbh, I'm scared of delivery either way - the drs make you feel bad for asking for a section but agreed my rationale was sound (there are lots of reasons) and that the risks are just different to a vaginal birth. I'm so confused as to what to do. Equally, their opinions change every time I see them and they've been saying for weeks 'we need to really think about the best delivery option for you' because at one point they were saying I'd be having a section as early as 36 weeks. I can't keep up. X

X

@Pip231018 that's annoying on the diet front. I'm sort of the opposite, all I eat is carbs but I'm so fed up of them. Toast, crumpets, pasta, potatoes - I'm eating like a 2 year old as I am still sick most days and struggle with meat and anything remotely healthy. I'm lucky my sugars are ok with it, otherwise I don't know what I'd do. It's hard eating the same thing, whatever that is, over and over.

I've told them I'm worried about the lack of variety in my diet and the effect on the baby, they were happy that so long as I was taking my pregnancy vitamins that it was fine.

I'm having an elective c section, which they've said to me 'sounds sensible given the circumstances'. My baby is measuring off the scale for everything and I have severe anxiety over it all. However, I thought everyone was entitled to have one if they wanted one so I see why you're annoyed, especially given your complications. The last thing you want now is stress over the birth. If it's what you want I'd really push them on it.

How many weeks are you now? I'm finding my mood and tolerance for everything has dropped the last week or so, I'm 32wks and c section will be 38/39 weeks.

@mintbear - wow, I can't believe you can tolerate that many carbs. But you're right a lack of variety is depressing whatever it is you can and can't have. The thought of eating scrambled egg again makes me feel a bit sick.

I'm 34 weeks tomorrow. You can choose, they just prefer you to have a vaginal birth because it's perceived to have less complications. Which I'm sure statistically it probably does. But at the same time, it could end in a c section anyway - it's one of those isn't it. There will always be what ifs.

I just need to see what my 36 week scan says now and hope she has grown a little more, she is just outside of normal. Every scan I sit there wondering what they will tell me this time.

I've had some really bad pelvic pain so I went to the acupuncturist, it seems to have helped a bit. I've finished work and I'm glad because I couldn't carry on working 10 hours every day combined with broken sleep plus I felt so bad cos I'm on hospital every Wednesday for at least 3 hours. Everything gets harder and you get tireder - especially if your baby is a little bigger. X

@Pip231018 I think I can tolerate the carbs as I honestly don't think I actually have gd. I'm very anxious over having my bloods taken and I think the stress makes them spike.

I'm the same, in hospital all the time for appointments and it takes hours. Sounds like you'll have to see what they say at your next appointment, good luck! My next growth scan is next week.

If I get too bored/annoyed with food I treat myself to something out, it'll always be a little different to what you do at home.

@mintbear Maybe you don't? I had one roast potato and I was 8.5. One slice of wholemeal toast 10.3. So I just avoid all carbs. Especially as they told me that when I spike my chances of still birth increases. Not at all worrying.

I can eat Indian take away, chicken tikka and veg curry/salad. But it cripples me with heartburn so I have to be selective of if we choose to order/dine out. I've eaten enough subway salads to last me a lifetime. This weekend we are going on a date and I'm having a meal off - I feel really apprehensive about it and I'm not sure I will actually do it on the day.

I hope your scan goes well next week! X

@Pip231018 oh that sounds awful, I really feel for you xx
I had a cheat meal a few months ago, I had steak and chips then waited an hour and decided my sugars were low enough to have a pud but sounds like your body is not tolerating any of it.
I've recently discovered low sugar magnums which I can eat no problem. There's also a brand called stute which sells jams that are very low sugar and some boiled sweets - I saw worthers we're now doing a sugar free version. Feel for you, it is such a worry xx