Suspected GD—Advice

[Redstar2015]

I had a growth scan yesterday at 36 weeks and ultrasound tech said baby’s tummy was measuring big at 97th centile. Also that my amniotic fluid was “a little” high but not of concern. Because of the bigger tummy though I was still asked to test blood sugar twice a day (fasting/morning and 1 hour after dinner). I’ve had 3 readings all normal so far. Is it possible they just measured wrong and everything is okay? It’s all freaked me out a bit as they also said at 20 week scan baby’s tummy was big but then they turned and said actually it looks fine.

My bloods after meals were 7.7 and 7.2. Fasting was 4.3. The 7.7 has me a bit worried too but it was my first time using the machine so not sure how accurate my reading was as had to try twice and struggled getting enough blood from finger. I definitely have high carb meals too but no extra sugars as acid reflux has meant cutting all that out.

Have a listen to these two episodes of The Midwives Cauldron podcast - you won't find better info out there.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uFokd2PlitplZUdHRZ5Ts?si=F2TO1Tv2StSnNKNwEVogDg

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4s2vnvz6ZUtxoZXZ6Mj58p?si=Osbqvu4vTqKElnOFqK6dWA

If those links don't work then the episodes are called Gestational Diabetes: The pregnancy perspective and Gestational Diabetes: the baby's perspective

If your blood was back down to 4.3 two hours after eating then it sounds totally fine.

7.7 right after a meal is fine, it's making sure it drops back down that's important.

If it was still high two hours after eating then you'd know your body wasn't clearing the glucose efficiently.

Growth scans are extremely inaccurate and cause a lot of unnecessary worry if you ask me (and thousands of others!).

Everything is in range, but I'd recommend you keep testing to be on the safe side.

If you're struggling to get blood out - are you rubbing the finger lots before you use the needle?

Just in case you do start to get high readings, I can't recommend Gestational Diabetes UK enough. There is a website and Facebook support group.

Your post meal readings are for 1 hour, right?

@GoneAway227 , the lower numbers are fasting (morning wake up before eating/drinking) and higher numbers are one hour after dinner. My morning today was 4.1 so still all normal thank goodness.

They're really good readings - my fasting was 5.3 this morning.
I'd try not to fret too much but would definitely keep testing.

@tinyshoppingbasket , oh definitely! Sometimes they help I know. But other times not so much. And my baby likes to scrunch up to one side of my stomach so not sure if that is affecting tummy measurements.

And meant to say thank you for the links! I’ll check them out.

@GoneAway227 , I’m running finger under hot water then gently rubbing to get blood. Sometimes it works well but other times the spot I pick just doesn’t work. Seems to be my middle finger mainly.

I’m definitely testing all week as they want 14 readings. I was just wondering if 4 normal readings means there’s a good chance I don’t have GD. I know my highest reading of 7.7 was after a giant bowl of potato soup so would think that would send things soaring if I had it.

Been stressed enough with work and the thought of maybe having baby sooner and a more medicalised birth freaked me out a bit.

My guess is you don't have it. If you're eating carb heavy meals and getting good readings you're likely fine.

@GoneAway227 , I hope so and hope next scan shows they just had the numbers wrong for tummy. Results were sent to a fetal medicine consultant as my first had an issue with intestines (corrected at birth and nothing genetic) so that’s part of the worry whenever they say something about this baby’s tummy. They have also just left me in limbo as no response since my scan on Wednesday.

I am gutted as I got a high reading one hour after dinner today and kicking myself as I had a food I don’t normally eat (baked beans) which is maybe what threw things off. Checked and was 8.9 and retook one minute later to be sure it was accurate and got an 8.0. All my other readings have been great. Even got 6.3 one hour after dinner yesterday so was thinking I was okay and didn’t have GB. Now I’m in a panic and worrying about the outcome if I am. 😭

Two hours after eating is when you should take the reading. X

@tinyshoppingbasket , the diabetes midwife wanted me to do readings one hour after my biggest meal (for me that’s dinner), so that’s just what I’m going by.

Different trusts have their own guidance on 1 or 2 hour testing.

What was your fasting reading this morning?

@GoneAway227 , it was 4.2 so well within normal.

That's really positive. They won't diagnose GD from one high reading.

@GoneAway227 , True, but my trust requires an extra week of testing with one high reading, so it does extend the period of worrying about results. I’ll see what they say on Wednesday though once I finish the week out. If I need to make diet changes I’d rather do it starting next week as I’ll be 37 weeks at that point. GD or not, it can’t hurt to eat a bit healthier.

@GoneAway227 , I chose to do an extra test one hour after breakfast as I always have a fruit smoothie then and got 8.0. Retested and got 7.4 a minute later but diabetes midwife said it didn’t matter I have GD and difference in femur length and abdominal circumference fro last two scan suggest this too. It angers me they are telling me this now as the earlier scan was 32 weeks and I’m 37 weeks this Wednesday. They’ve left me in tears saying as it’s so late I need medication, possibly insulin, and induction at 38 weeks. Speaking to a consultant this weeks to talk options but it’s left me confused about what’s right for baby as I though worst case I could do diet controlled and go to 40 + 6.

@Redstar2015 join the gestational diabetes uk Facebook group if you haven't already done so. There's a website too. www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/

How are you getting on @Redstar2015

@GoneAway227 , not great. Had an induction at 37 weeks due to risk of placental failure as I had Polyhydramnios detected at my 36 week scan (whole reason they tested for gestational diabetes). Baby seemed okay at first other than needing a bit of breathing support but is now in special care. They have since hit us with several concerns and though he’s doing better each day we are awaiting a genetics test as they thought he had some of the markers for it but not enough to be sure. It’s pretty much a living nightmare especially having had my first in special care so triggers a lot of trauma from that too.

@GoneAway227 meant to say some markers for Down syndrome.I’m still a wreck!