Tell me about your gestational diabetes

[LuckyMoonstone]

How did you cope? What did you eat? Did you completely abstain or allow yourself the odd treat? What was the effect on your baby? On your birthing experience? Particularly if you were being pushed for induction or CS.
Thanks in advance, looking forward to hearing some real stories.

I don't remember exactly what I ate as this was 2021. I do remember sometimes getting spikes at my morning fasting reading though. I was advised to eat something high in protein before bed. It seemed to help. My GD wasn't too bad, so I was diet controlled, never needed medication. No effect on baby - he was a small 6lb 7oz, although he did come 8 days early (on his own, no induction!). I had a really easy, quick birth. So much so that I was pleasantly surprised and shocked that it was nothing like the dreadful event I had imagined!

To add, my waters broke 11am, much to my surprise (I was out in public and not expecting it!) And was holding my baby boy by 3pm! This is my first

I was on maximum metformin. My fasting levels in morning were always high. I ate small amounts of carbohydrates. Look up food pairing. I'd have an apple but have it with lots of peanut butter, for example.
I was 34 weeks over Xmas period and I never ever had any chocolate or anything remotely sugary at any point. No treats whatsoever. Not worth it. I had severe polyhydraminios almost to the point of having an amniocentesis to drain off excess amniotic fluid. My sugar levels went crazy at 37 weeks but it would've taken too long to start insulin and settle into it so I had a c section at 38 weeks and baby was 8lb and had jaundice but otherwise ok. I am now pre-diabetic

Third time with gd, manage with Diet and exercise, but very low carb. Babies have been grand hopefully this one will be too. First ended up in nicu but we had a bad birth with pre eclampsia and the hospital not caring for us properly in Labour. That was an induction at 37 weeks. Second birth was fabulous no induction all was well! First they tried me with metformin but it impacted my liver so was taken off and back on diet. When I went lower carb my sugars improved immensely. I still eat some like berries and veg but mainly fat and protein, which works great for me alongside half an hour walking after dinner. My snack tends to be quark with zero calorie syrups and berries and some Keto chocolate or cheese/nuts yoghurt. I make homemade jam out of frozen berries and chia seeds and use that with quark too. I also make ice cream with no added sugar almond milk which is great too. My first baby was 7lbs and second 9lbs but I was eating home made sugar free ice cream a ton with her with double cream so actually I think that made her a chunk not the diabetes 😂 with the testing, I have the issue of not enough blood and running my finger under the hot tap a minute helps a ton! I don’t even need the needle on a high setting!

Join the gduk group on Facebook, they are a godsend. I was 0.1 over the target when I had my test but went on to have to limit carbs so much by the end of my pregnancy. Your Inital test doesn’t indicate how your diabetes will progress I’m afraid. It really important to keep your sugars under control so your baby isn’t harmed. You will get the hang of the blood tests after you have had a week of doing them 4 times a day! Definitely join the fb group there’s loads of people who will help xx

I was gutted to start with but quickly got on with it and the motivation that I was keeping baby safe was enough for me. I basically lived off veg, cheese, proteins, cream, eggs, avocado. If you pair a carb with enough fat your sugars don't spike. In terms of induction/labour. I was told I needed induction at 40+6 which I declined, bump measurement went down a bit at 40+5 so went for a growth scan which was fine but agreed to have waters broken. Had them broken at 41+1 and baby born 41+2 via forceps and episiotomy. Baby was a normal weight at 7lb 4oz and both our sugars were fine after and the following day. I only gained about 3lb in the 3rd trimester which I put down to the GD diet!