The GD thread for the GD Ladies

[CherLW]

Just a little group for the ladies with GD to talk, ask all the questions and be there for each other

Hi Ladies just a GD and movements question. Sorry its probably been addressed before. So si ce I changed diet last Saturday movements have been more squirmy and less kicking. Tbh, baby never really kicks hard. Only occasionally. I'm 30 weeks. I started testing glucose today. But have got my diet sorted. So I guess from now I'll adjust the foods portions etc unless it stops working and I need metformin and insulin too. If anyone has less movement with GD pls share your experience xx

@Sillysocks998 in theory nothing should change, however I definitely noticed movements got weaker and less often before ramping up as i got further along (diagnosed at 25 weeks now nearly 33)

I put it down to less stimulation as not only was I eating less it wasn't as sweet!

If in doubt and you don't feel sure it's as it should be always get checked out.

Thanks Bubbles. I'm going to have apple and pb about 9pm and see if that helps a bit more. Water wise I'm nearly up to 3 litres. My readings so far have been 6.6 and 6.8 after lunch and dinner, 1 hour post food. I don't exercise at moment but I am drinking more water. Maybe that's helping. Fasting one will be interesting as I've read it's one everyone struggles with. Thank you for replying xxx

Hi Ladies! Sorry about popping in and just asking questions... I have several risk factors for GD and the midwife told me yesterday that they no longer do the glucose tolerance test that I had with my son, but due to Covid it's Hba1c (sugar level over the last 8 to 12 weeks) throughout the pregnancy.
However, I have read up on diabetes UK and the Nice guidelines (updated version 2021) and they don't mention this. I also found a few articles that Hba1c is not a good measure to assess GD.

What is it like in your hospital?
Will I have any success referring to the Nice guidelines? I'm not keen on the test, but obviously I don't want to miss anything.
If they dismiss my concerns, can I at least insist on a kit to do a few day profiles?

@Sillysocks998 she does have periods where she's a bit quieter than I expected, and I get more movement than kicks nowadays with the odd elbow or knee jerking out. So weird. But like @Bubbles1st says, if you have any change in movements they do say to call either your midwife or triage to at least talk it through

@Peachi82 my trust still do the oral glucose test and repeat bloods 2 hours after. My post glucose drink was 8.0 and I needed to be under 7.8! So they diagnosed me. The jbac test I heard was done 6 weeks post birth and then yearly. I'd address it anyway and ask for a growth scan maybe? I think if you have risk factors then it's important and they should understand and just do it your way 🙄

@Peachi82 that's certainly different to my hospital, where I had the glucose test at 28weeks. I've never heard of the other type of test you mention, and if you're feeling unhappy about her response I would definitely push back on it & explain your findings. I thought the glucose drink test was standard in all hospitals, but someone else in the group might know more

Hi @GWhiteley thank you i feel our movements are the same. Just gentle squirmy movements and flutters and then a jab now and again. I've got a growth scan tomorrow morning so Im going to try hold out but if I get worried I'll be straight to the hospital to check. Thank you. Just hope all is OK. It's a never ending worry. 😩. Xx

I have a question of my own. I had egg mayo sandwich for lunch made with light mayo, and got a reading of over 8. Then tonight hubby did me a bit of potato salad, again with the light mayo & again had a high reading even with a metformin tablet. Do you think it's the mayo that's causing the high readings? The bread I had was 2x400g wholemeal, which is the tiniest loaf you can get

@GWhiteley I've knocked all condiments on the head. But I'm on day 5 of GD diet so I'm sure I'll get desperate soon enough. It's mayo or your pregnancy hormones are intensifying? 8. 0 post meals aren't drastically over, have a little less mayo or 1 potato less? See if that helps first? Might just be portion of mayo.

@GWhiteley you could use plain Greek yoghurt with some garlic powder and seasoning? Instead of mayo? You'll get your calcium that way too.

I also just thought of cottage cheese with boiled egg mixed up a bit on whole grain crackers. 😂. But could have that in 2 400g breads.. I've been using livlife bread. It's really nice

I just really struggle with what to have in a sandwich if I can't have egg or tuna mayo as I'm still at work so not like I can knock up an omelette while I'm in the office. Both of those have been fine until recently so I do wonder if it's my tolerance going down. In which case I could be resorted to ham or chicken sandwiches for the next two weeks. Luckily only go 10 working days left & then things will be easier with food I hope.

Thanks for the suggestions, I do appreciate them. However I can't stand cottage cheese & I already have quite a lot of yoghurt so don't want to add anymore if I can help it!

I might try having egg mayo again tomorrow but then have a yoghurt after it to see if that helps bring the reading down. If not then I'll change it about as hate high readings

My sandwiches at the minute:
2 400g breads
No margerine or butter
Hummus one side
Avo the other side
Quorn slice
Cheese
Olives
Cucumber
Spinach
Ive also added spring onion and peppers. Its all falling out but fills me up. I'm a vegetarian. Just try totally different ingredients. These are GD friendly too x

I've been told full fat stuff is better than light, as light has something in it to better the taste that isn't so good for readings and it's the fat that helps the body take the glucose better, maybe try with full fat Mayo and see if that makes a difference?

@GWhiteley I've had no issues with full fat Mayo, I've even been buying sandwich fillers - chicken and bacon, cheese and onion and egg Mayo. I also love a ham and cheese salad or tuna Mayo with avocado.

I'm not eating any slices bread. Only whole meal thins, rye bagel or seeded flat breads. All much less carbs than 2 slices of even small bread.

Although I tend to have more cracker break or ryvitas at the minute.

Thanks for the tips, will have to persuade hubby full fat is the way to go for a while. He isn't keen on me having too much fat, but I don't think he realises how little I actually have now!

@GWhiteley if its better for the baby and you're blood levels he will probably understand, plus sadly it doesn't mean we can go all out on stuffing out faces with everything fatty, just making the full fat choice with things like Mayo and Yoghurt. You could also mix fats like Avocado in and see if that makes a difference? Weird mix I know, but I've personally given up on foods that 'should' go together and now just eat things that make sense for the GD. Can't wait to smash a normal bowl of cocoa pops when she's here!

Just to add more Mayo opinions 🤣 I've been fine with both light and full fat but I would be completely over if I had two slices of bread. You could try an open sandwich with more filling to compensate?

Same as me @bewitchingnight. I can't have bread at all (only the thins seem to be ok).

@AdventuresAwait It's a shame as it's probably my favourite of all the carbs! But the least tolerated!

Thanks Ladies! It's good to know that other hospitals are still offering the glucose test.
I read the nice guidelines last night and there is no mention of not offering the test when you have risk factors. But there is a warning of using Hba1c in second and third trimester as it is unreliable.
I will speak again to my midwife and the consultant and will ask for a referral to the glucose test or the possibility of recording day profiles.
I have found a open access article as well that I will read over the next few days.
drc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001751
I'll link it here in case it is of interest to anyone.

Wishing you all a good remainder of your pregnancies and lots of squishy baby cuddles soon!

Just needed to share….super happy to have had my first ever under target fasting reading since diagnosis over 3 weeks ago!

After upping my insulin to 3 units last night, I had a reading of 5.0 this morning!!!! 🙌🏻

My lowest up to now had been 5.9. But more often than not was 6.5 or above!

@Peachi82 ah that's interesting how different places offer different tests. I know that here they use the hba1c to check 3 months after birth that type 2 hasn't occurred.

@Moominmiss amazing! That's brilliant!

Yay @Moominmiss! Celebrating with you 🥳