GD I'm scared

[Delbelleber]

Since my diagnosis I've been reading about gestational diabetes. The risk of still birth and baby dieing in the first few months of life comes up and its upsetting me.
How bad does the GD have be for it to come to that? My levels were OK for the first week of monitoring but this is my second week and every morning I've woke up to high levels. The highest its been was 5. 8 on waking. How bad is that? Is it risky for babies life or would it have to be higher than that to be a significant risk? My levels have been within target for my after meal check but tonight it was higher than target.
Just feeling a bit over whelmed by it and worried about the potential negative effect on my baby.

I haven't a clue about this, but am offering a socially distanced cyberhug. Three close friends had GD and all the babies thrived. Follow the advice of your medical pros and take comfort in the fact that your baby will be well monitored.

I can’t remember levels because it was so long ago, I mainly just wanted to reassure you. I had GD and the now 8 year old just jumped on me whilst I was trying to get a nap. sigh

I managed it on diet and exercise alone, I had a couple of spikes, but you’ll learn what does and doesn’t work. We ensured he was out a little early (4days I think) and he actually came out at 3kg exactly.

If anything it was really good for me to understand what I put into my body and it’s effects, certainly kept the weight down

I’ve known a lot of women develop GD, probably 30 or 40, maybe more, including three of my sisters/cousins (the type 2 gene is in our family which seems to increase risk).

I have never heard of it resulting in a stillbirth or a fatality.

I googled the fatality risk is well below 1%, which is tiny and not even double the risk a non-diabetic pregnancy.

There are dozens of things you do all the time with a similar risk profile.

Most importantly, you have a LOT of control over this via diet and exercise. Have a chat with your midwife.

I felt the same when I was diagnosed, but really the risks of still birth are more associated with cases of undiagnosed GD. You will be carefully monitored and the team won’t let it get out of control. Your fasting levels are quite high so I would recommend giving your diabetic team a call to see if you need medication. You can’t do anything about the fasting levels really because you’re asleep- I was put on insulin straight away and it really helped. Join the gestational diabetes UK Facebook page- lots of women who can help you and the diet tips are fantastic. You will get through it. It did cause my little one’s growth to slow down but at two weeks old she is doing well. You will be ok!

Thanks for your reassuring replies.
I was hoping to avoid medication but I'll see what the diabetes nurse says.

5.8 isn't bad though is it. I was told my fasting reading should be between 4-6.

I only had it in my last pregnancy and don't know anyone else who has but I can tell you it didn't cause me/baby any issues.

Sometimes reading up on things too much can cause more worry than enough so maybe stop googling especially since the thing that caused the biggest spikes for me was stress!

The gestational diabetes group is so useful. Don't sweat it if you need medication. I did towards the end of my pregnancy and found it helpful.
I was very upset about the diagnosis and risk of complications but the funny thing is, I had so much additional care in the way of extra scans and checks that I'm confident that anything wrong would have been spotted much more quickly than in a routine pregnancy. I lost weight while pregnant too.

Mine eas easily managed by diet but I was super strict with it. The NHS diet guidance is crap, there are great online resources which are much better. Get your food pairing right.
So many people end up on medication unnecessarily because they don’t get the food right.
I had an easy birth, small unaffected baby. It is scary but the regular scans are reassuring.

This is a great resource www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/