Worried about getting gestational diabetes

[PlantMummy87]

Is anyone else super worried about getting gestational diabetes?

I was told due to a close family member having got diabetes later on in life I am at higher risk of getting gestational diabetes so am being monitored more in relation to this.

At my first midwife appointment around 10 weeks I had blood and urine tests (non fasting) and it all came back fine for blood sugar levels even though I stupidly drank a fizzy drink about 30mins before the test (I never usually have fizzy drinks so this was a one off), and I'll be checked throughout this pregnancy but I can't help but be worried about it, not so much for myself, more for my baby as don't want them to get too big, have birth complications or them having higher chances of obesity etc later in their life.

I am vegan and I usually eat very healthily and exercise regularly, but this first trimester it has been hard with sickness, nausea and exhaustion and have indulged in maybe too much bread, chips and more convenience meals than I would usually make, and haven't been able to exercise as much as pre pregnancy. As I'm getting into the second trimester (tomorrow) I am feeling a lot less sick and feeling able to start cooking healthy meals and start exercising again. I've put on about 2.5kg during this first trimester and my tummy is definitely rounding out at the bottom meaning my jeans are getting tighter, I know this might be bloating as it happens especially at night. But I've read that most women in their first pregnancy don't show until much later so am worried I've messed up already and that I'm going to have a massive baby.

Don't worry, my mum had gestational diabetes and I have PCOS which are two of the biggest risk factors and I've never had it. If you're worried you can take the supplement inositol - it reduces the risk. GL

I had it with my first and not my second. I controlled it well with diet and meds. I was induced as babies are usually bigger (mine wasn't huge although 1lb bigger than dc2 who was born at same gestation so was probably bigger but not huge).

Try not to worry, I don't think there is much you can do to stop it.

I had HG in trimester one, hospitalised and then from week 16 onwards gestational diabetes. It's not easy, the feeling of sickness has been changed with a woozy feeling it's hard to explain like you are sensitive to pain. It's horrible. And the risks of Covid, risks of baby are much more severe. However saying all that I'm monitored weekly by the nurse, fortnightly scans, fortnightly consultant check so all in all I feel that my baby is cared and monitored closely. I had gestational with my first child too and she is a happy 6 year old now.

It's not easy but it's manageable.

I had it with my second. I was able to control it with diet. I was induced at 38 weeks and he was 7 lbs 2 so not massive.

I had GD with my first pregnancy and have it again this time. First time I was diet controlled and was only borderline. Induced at 38+2 as they said she was measuring big... she was 7lb. This time I'm pregnant with twins so diet controlled and also have to take two tablets a day and this keeps it well under control, hardly had any high readings and I still have a daily treat.
I haven't put on a massive amount of weight apart from my bump.
I think if you're going to get it, you're going to get it. Don't beat yourself up about whats already happened, just focus on trying to eat healthier now and doing a bit of exercise.

Nothing you eat is going to give you gestational diabetes. There are certain factors that make you more likely to get it, such as diabetes in the family, high BMI, certain ethnicities etc. There seems to be a real misconception that women cause themselves to have it by eating too much sugar or carbs and that’s just not true.

I’ve had two GD pregnancies despite having no risk factors. I’ve controlled it with diet. The baby is monitored regularly and with controlled blood sugars there’s no need to presume the baby would be big.

As @Teakind says, it's not about what you eat during pregnancy. There are certain risk factors but I believe GD is caused by the placenta not processing in a certain way and is why gestational diabetes generally ends once the placenta has been delivered (although there is a higher risk of Type 2 after the pregnancy).

I controlled my GD through diet, although whether or not people need medication is sometimes not always within their control - morning fasting levels are notoriously hard to control. I was heavily monitored and my baby was just over 6lb so not huge. If you do get a diagnosis, I heartily recommend Gestational Diabetes UK as a resource as I found their information much more helpful than the NHS.

Thank you for everyone's replies, it has been really helpful to hear others' experiences of having had it and that it can be managed through diet and medication if needed, and that importantly their little ones are healthy and happy.

I think as it was only mentioned in sort of passing that I was higher risk and not explained more by the midwife my mind sort of went into overdrive, thinking that it will definitely happen, I think as my family members was induced due to lifestyle it made me think this way, but now realise that gestational diabetes is not the same, and if I do get it isn't because of anything I've done wrong. I think I'll chat to my midwife more about it at my next appointment, so just try and gauge what is normal.

From looking online last night the weight I've gained is around the amount to be expected in the first trimester so that makes me feel a little better. I think I had added pressure too as a close family member said to me that they think I'll not show for ages and then just pop, but feel like I'm doing the opposite! Plus both myself and my partner was quite small babies (3lbs and 5lbs) so I was thinking if the baby is big then it's my fault, not genetics.

I've committed to trying to focus more on what I can control so went for a nice gentle jog this morning and going to have a healthier meals from now on where I can with the nausea and sickness, but going to try to not beat myself up if I have an off day.

@Georgarina thanks for mentioning about the inositol. I still have some from when we TTC so will add that back in to the vitamins I take :)

Also super sorry about the formatting on my posts. I separated it all into paragraphs, but as doing it on my phone it seems to just take the spaces out🤦‍♀️

I got it just for fasting sugar with my second because of lack of sleep (who knew that the child you aren’t pregnant with can also give you GD). I couldn’t control it (because couldn’t control lack of sleep) and ended up on ever increasing insulin at night. It was fine, baby was been fine and is now a skinny child.

Hi I am also classed as high risk due to both my parents having type 1.

I've got my first week scan and appointment with the consultant in 2 weeks so will see what they say.

Keeping everything crossed that things go smoothly 🤞