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

@CherLW, glad you feel a bit better after talking to your midwife xx

How was your appointment today @AdventuresAwait ? X

It was fine thanks @CherLW. Fairly quick as just the usual checks, but all fine and always lovely to hear baby's heartbeat. Midwife said we'll have a double meeting in 2 weeks (at 36 weeks) to discuss the birth plan. Maybe not so much to discuss as it's a c-section but a couple of things & she said we'll discuss other plans in case baby comes early and it's a natural birth. So I'll have a think before then but just a quick appointment today.

@CherLW happy 35 weeks!

Feeling huge though & can't wait for the next month to be over!

Went out for dinner last night with friends & had steak, skin on chips with veg & peppercorn sauce. Happy to say both my after dinner reading & my fasting reading have both been fine 😊

That’s good @AdventuresAwait I always love to hear the heartbeat ❤️
If your baby decides to arrive early will you have a natural Labour or will you still hope for a C section? It’s good you’re having a double meeting as my midwife couldn’t really say much as waiting on consultant.

@GWhiteley I’ve definitely got a waddle now but still loving the pregnant feeling.. so strange isn’t it how everyone is different. I can’t believe how quick time is now going!!

Thanks @CherLW! If she comes early, we'll try for a natural labour but will have a low threshold for a c-section if things aren't progressing as they should. It's the induction we're most against and was the final reason for an elective c-section, on top of age, BMI, GD & a family history of a narrow pelvic arch, all of which increase my risk of an emergency cesarean. Without the GD and induction recommendation, we were happy to try naturally (I really wanted a water birth) and the consultant just said they'd keep a close eye on things in case I also have a narrow pelvis meaning I can't give birth naturally. But I may not so I do think we'd try to labour naturally if she comes before 39 weeks and see how things went, knowing that a section may be needed. But really hope she doesn't come early as hoping for a September birth!

I'm also loving being pregnant and feel it's going so quickly. Can't wait to have our little one here but am going to really miss my bump and being pregnant...

Hi ladies, can I join?
Freaking a little bit here already

Diagnosed with GD at 29+5, given my blood testing kit yesterday.
First fasting reading is 7.8 this morning (admittedly I had a chicken wrap last night and some chips that I couldn't finish, before I start this GD journey)
I'm already feeling like I can't eat anything for breakfast... and thinking I'm gonna be medicated sharpish.

Bubs is measuring 2 wks over gestational date too... so feeling a little bit down that I'm going to be induced earlier than expected by a few wks

😭🤯

@gems05 almost everyone on here will tell you it's all about food pairing. I have strawberries & full fat greek yoghurt for breakfast during the week & then try to have a treat of bacon & egg at the weekend as still working full time at the moment.

My dietician assures me that the odd high reading isn't a big deal, but that the fasting one is the one that they keep an eye on the most.

I'm on one metformin tablet that I only take after dinner to help with my fasting reading & it seems to be working.

We're all here for you, ask any questions & we'll do our best to help. I couldn't have survived without this thread!

@gems05, welcome to the thread. It can be daunting and a bit overwhelming at first so sending hugs. I remember having lots of questions and worries. I got ideas for meals online and, I'm not on Facebook, but was told there's a great page for Gestational Diabetes on there. It was interesting to see what I could and couldn't tolerate as it seems to be different for different people & you soon get used to what you can have and which foods to eat together. Walking after meals and drinking water seems to really help too.

I had to start on medication pretty quickly too. Was disappointed at first but was really pleased to see the effects on my blood sugars and got used to it quickly.

Feel free to ask any questions. This thread is great for sharing and getting support. It's really helped me xx

Quick question ladies who are taking Metformin - is it true that Metformin slows down baby’s growth? Xx

@Firevie, I haven't heard that. But the risk with GD is baby growing large so if the Metformin helps lower blood sugar, I guess it helps prevent large growth in that sense?

Not sure I've explained well...!

Anyone around the 36 week mark noticed the readings getting better? I tested a 'normal' breakfast this morning, so white bread roll, half with cheese the other half with jam, and whereas before a few weeks id have been at about 170 (need to be under 140) i was at 142. I googled, and it says things level out a bit at this time, something to do with less hormones coming from the placenta i think, or that it means the placenta isnt working as it should... its not drastically lower so im trying not to worry its the 2nd, and they check the placenta function every two weeks, next appt on thurs, but wondered if its just me or anyone has noticed or been told anything about this?

@AdventuresAwait thank you! Think I’m just stressing out / worrying for nothing. I guess the Metformin helps keep baby’s growth in range xx

@Scotti84, yes my levels have improved... I didn't think it being due to placenta not working well, that's pretty worrying 😥

@Firevie, I don't really know though... probably going to read up about it now!

And I'm only 34 weeks.. 😳

@AdventuresAwait from what i can tell, if theyve dropped massively it may be worth a call to the midwife but if theyve dropped a bit its more likely to do with the hormones levelling out, if baby moves less or you start to bleed that's cause for worry, but GD or not that would be worrying. Ill ask my midwife on monday when i see her, but im trying to take it as one of those googles where you look up back ache and on one side its a stretched muscle and on the other your kidneys have failed and you have two days to live... i think instinct would also kick in, if something wasnt working right. It makes sense that things level off around this point as the most of the work is done and baby is pretty much doing everything herself. How have your measurements been? Is baby bigger for the gestational term or is she ok?

Yes true @Scotti84, my levels haven't dropped hugely and only 1 hypo. Baby is on about the 79th percentile so they're happy she's within range. But that was 3 weeks ago. Next scan is on Thursday so I'll see then.

@gems05 welcome to the thread, like others have said we have all started off pretty worried about what to do and what’s happening etc but this thread has been so helpful to me! Being able to talk to people who are going through the same is a life saver!
Don’t beat yourself up over a high reading as it was one of your first testings and it does take a little while to work out what our bodies can tolerate. X

@AdventuresAwait that sounds like a good plan! I guess where you have a few other things to think about helps with the decision you’ll make an early choice wether to have a c section. I would much rather make the choice than a natural Labour go on for too long and then it be an emergency! X

I just want it to be Wednesday now to see the consultant as he was so reassuring last time and I need that now! I had a dream last night how the babies head was too big!! That’s just from thinking of my last growth scan where she said ‘he has a decent sized head’ and said he could model hats on Instagram! I was so upset! I told my consultant and he was so mad at that as he said all was normal and said I had nothing to worry about!

So mardy 😩

Had a pretty basic and miserable turkey stir fry, with a small amount of wholemeal rice and got a high reading, 8.2

Honestly I'd of rather that a bloody sandwich if it knew it would be high.

I drink 700ml water with every meal and usually have a decent reading.

Had some blips last week and thought I was getting complacent but this just makes me think it's my tolerance in the evenings changing.

I am 34+1 so right the middle of the tolerance change period, just hope it doesn't keep getting worse.....

Moan over!

Oh and I'm still hungry 😭

@Bubbles1st oh noooo!! That’s so annoying when you have something that isn’t even exciting whilst thinking it will be ok reading wise and then it’s not! Maybe it was just a combination of what else you’ve eaten today and a one off?

I can eat the same lunch for 3 days in a row and get different readings each time, i don’t get it!

I hope you’re feeling ok ❤️ Moan all you like x

@CherLW and @Bubbles1st, I don't get it either! Treated myself to daim chocolate cake the other day & blood sugar was under target.. then I have something I've had many times since the GD diagnosis & my blood result was high... 😒

I’m just about to give Oppo ice cream a try… I want it with strawberries but I feel it’s not a good pairing 🤔

@CherLW have you got squirty cream? Somehow im ok with ice cream, strawberries and squirty cream, no idea why but my readings after were ok