Gestational diabetes- tell me it will be Ok

[theprincessthepea]

I’ve found out I have gestational diabetes at 32 weeks. Baby is measuring big. I tend to be pretty healthy. Average BMI, 5ft5 and 70lbs (incase relevant). I’ve increased the amount of water and veg. I started drinking more juices due to uti and anemia but will cut that down.

I’ve had one pregnancy condition after the other and feel quite deflated.

I will be seeing the doctor this week who will set up a meal plan and show me how to manage my sugar levels etc but the advice online goes from one extreme to the other (most women get through it to birth difficulties).

Im grateful it has been caught now but would love to hear from other women that have faced it. Did if affect your DCs after? I think I’m more concerned about long term issues with baby than I am concerned for myself right now.

thanks x

Hi
I understand your concerns, I was diagnosed with GD at around 24 weeks in my twin pregnancy. Similarly to you I had one thing after another in pregnancy and was so worried.
I ended up being unable to control my GD as it was my fasting blood levels which I couldn't control (as it wasn't related to what I was eating!) and ended up on insulin. I then ended up having steroids as I had to deliver my twins early due to other complications. Steroids mess with your blood sugars so I was on an insulin drip. I was so worried.
Twins were both born early at 34 weeks, taken for blood sugar checks, and were absolutely fine and have been ever since. My own blood sugars also completely stabilised and I've had no issues either.
I was terrified and had a particularly unsympathetic gestational diabetes midwife.
There's a gestational diabetes Facebook group which I found very helpful!
Wishing you luck, I am sure everything will be absolutely fine xxxxx

Have a read of this:-

https://midwifethinking.com/2018/03/20/gestational-diabetes-beyond-the-label/

These are also a good listen:

https://themidwivescauldron.buzzsprout.com/1178486/8766889-gestational-diabetes-the-pregnancy-perspective

https://themidwivescauldron.buzzsprout.com/1178486/8857485-gestational-diabetes-the-baby-s-perspective

Don’t panic. I managed mine through a very strict diet - largely low GI. Just be careful with some veg as, for example carrots, are high sugar. Testing regularly will help you see a pattern.
Despite their suggestions, DC was not huge - in fact 2lbs smaller than DC1 was, and was tested for blood sugar levels regularly for 24 hours after birth but was totally fine.
Plus side for me was that I weighed less after having DC2 than before I was pregnant.

I had GD with all three children and they were all fine.I don’t have diabetes now either. You will be ok.

Two GD pregnancies and no after effects for any of us to date.

Plenty of water. No added sugar squash is fine as are diet fizzy drinks.

Protein is your friend.

I ended up on metformin as I struggled to control my sugars.

slow release carbs helped. It’s trial and error. Eg I found 2 weetabix was too much but 1.5 was ok.

i went the other way with my GD and baby was born small. Perfectly healthy though and his sugars were fine.

it’s not your fault, your body just can’t produce enough insulin for the both of you.

You’ll need to check your sugars 4x a day. In labour you’ll be on constant monitoring and induction is likely.

They may talk to you about harvesting colostrum as ideally baby will need to be fed straight away when born.

Colleague of mine, regular runner developed it. She changed the way she ate. Very few carbs. It meant she had to think a bit more about food consumed but she and baby were fine

Thanks all. I’ll have a read and listen to some of your suggestions.

I had a group GD class today which was reassuring and I’ve been given the kit to start tracking and a book with recipes.

It feels better hearing from women that have gone through it and are healthy as I had this horrible feeling that my body was failing my baby (my first pregnancy wasn’t as challenging so I think this one has been a shock) - but I guess that was just initial emotions.

Really appreciate all of the replies x

It's scary but don't worry. It's well known about and many mums to be develop GDM - id say, take medical advice, don't go overdue, the baby will be bigger as macrosomia is normal with GDM. Kidneys do become 'leaky' in pregnancy, just listen and take medical advice
Good luck and enjoy your baby when they arrive

My GD was managed by diet alone, I was brutally strict with it though as figured it wasn’t for long, so there was no cheating. I was diagnosed earlier than that, but it was no drama.

DD was small (6lb 10) and perfectly healthy, we had to stay in for the requisite 24hrs post birth of blood sugar monitoring but it caused no further issues for either of us.

I was diagnosed at 30 weeks, diet managed for 4 weeks, metformin for 4 weeks (induced at 38 weeks as was the policy at the time - I believe this has now changed). Ended up with an EMC for reasons not related to the GD, both DC and I have had normal blood sugars from pretty much straight after. My tip would be to take food in that you know doesn’t spike your sugars, they didn’t test us until 48 hours later and the only breakfast available was white toast (caused me huge spikes) or cornflakes with milk (also caused me spikes) so I didn’t eat anything until DH arrived with something “safe”.

There is a Facebook group and website (run by volunteers not medics) that I have found quite helpful - fb group is called gestational diabetes UK. Just be weary as some of the advice about induction/labour etc is against medical recommendations however the recipes and diet information is much better than anything the NHS gives. The FB group is free to join and the website offers quite a cheap subscription for £5 a month and even has some free recipes

I got diagnosed at 28 weeks and am 34 today being entirely diet controlled and have been having lots of tasty treats still including ground almond pancakes for brekkie and special GD friendly brownies!

I am fairly fit/healthy and got tested due to family history - even the diabetic midwife was surprised I was positive as my bump has been a little small but growth scans have shown a big baby and at first a little too much fluid but this has resolved now my sugars have normalised.

Just remember if you end up on medication it’s not your fault and you haven’t “failed”. It’s the placenta causing issues and some women need medication to keep baby safe