Due February 2025 - Thread 3

[UrbanSquirrel]

Following on from the two existing threads, welcoming all the intrepid ladies due in February, for further excellent support 🤗

🤣🤣🤣
here’s something else to brighten your night…plain chocolate - flake/twirl/wispa don’t rise my sugars either!!
Chocolate digestive puts them through the roof!

Sorry to hear what you’ve been going through @SBelfast and that you got the dreaded GD call @UrbanSquirrel

I posted on Facebook because I was having to do glucose testing too and sadly was confirmed on Monday I have GD too - got about 4 spikes across the previous week although definitely was eating normally / badly!

The GDUK website seems great - haven’t quite got into my stride yet but had a genuinely delicious chilli con carne from a recipe on there last night and was yum (with bit of brown rice, lots of sour cream and avocado too!)

I had a scare last week where I thought I was leaking amniotic fluid and because my DS came at 32 weeks I freaked out. I’m lucky that it wasn’t (probably just my leaky pelvic floor!) and they did a clever test that judges whether you’re likely to come in the next 4 weeks which tested negative too. So holding on to that for now and really really hoping I make it longer this time!

@UrbanSquirrel @Cheeseandcrackers123 so sorry you’ve both drawn the GD short straw 🌸 It definitely seems like there are so many good resources out there to manage it though (I looked some up to manage my anxiety pre-test haha).

I have to say, I’m still struggling to ‘relax into’ pregnancy and enjoy it, despite now hitting the third trimester- feels like there’s always something to stress about. I’m always second guessing whether the movements feel as strong as the day before 😅

I have my GTT tomorrow, so nervous! 3rd pregnancy and never had it… fingers crossed I escape again! I just don’t have the mental space for it 😭

All of you having the diabetes test, did you have symptoms or is it just a test they do in your area?

@EastLondonCoffeeFiend I read somewhere (can't find it again, obviously) that strength of movement peaks at around 30 weeks. After that the baby has less room and can't generate the same momentum.

@herewegoagain123456 I believe it depends on your risk factors.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/

@herewegoagain123456 Yep, as @QuantumPanic says I was marked down to do one at my booking appointment because of my BMI. I have no other risk factors. At my last midwife check she noted that the glucose in my urine sample was one point over the boundary, but we wondered if that was because I'd had breakfast immediately beforehand. So I would probably have been put down for one then I'd not before.

I now wonder whether in fact my mum might have had it back in 1985 and never been diagnosed (I guess they didn't test then?), and whether that might be why she ended up having pre-eclampsia and I was so premature? Interesting... 🤔

I had mine tested because baby and his stomach showing up at over 97th percentile at 24 week scan 😬

Ive been wondering similar though @UrbanSquirrel given my son came at 32 weeks and it was unexplained but also was Covid so I had really zero testing / checks by midwives and doctors after 20 week scan. In a way that makes me optimistic as is something you can control so if it is a way to avoid that experience again I’m all in!

Good luck @OrangeSlices998! I'm rooting for you. The test honestly isn't bad at all. And, as @Cheeseandcrackers123 and @UncharteredWaters have said, there seem to be sensible and straightforward ways to manage it. But hopefully you'll escape again and all will be fine 😄 x

Sorry to hearabout those of you with GD, hopefully it is manageable. Has anyone else been told to take iron as their iron levels are on the low side of normal and have dropped since earlier in pregnancy?

@DearKoala yes! I’ve had a midwife appointment this afternoon and I was told that my last blood test showed low levels of haemoglobin and something else and that it’s iron deficiency / anaemia so I need to take iron tablets.

i am also on aspirin, D3 and calcium to prevent preeclampsia because of my high blood pressure.

I am also having the glucose test on 4th December and seeing how everything else is going I wouldn’t be surprised if I also have GD! But we will see how it goes.

other than that I feel fine and baby’s heartbeat was so strong today ♥️.

also you lovely people have inspired my partner to make us a spreadsheet 🤣

@DearKoala in my trust all pregnant women are now taking iron supplements. They've given a low dose 3 x per week to try to stay on top of it. Different to my first pregnancy!

Yep - I’m taking extra iron now. After about a week of the extra supplements, I do feel less tired so glad they picked it up!

I am 28wks today. Time is officially flying by! Anniversary of an 18wk loss tomorrow so feeling emotional this week, but blessed to be having a straightforward textbook pregnancy so far.

In terms of movements, baby must still be feet down, most strong kicks are in my cervix and against previous c-section scar.

I have my 28wk consultant appt on Monday, I will prob be sent for GD testing as my BMI was 29.9 to begin with and I've had a big appetite shall we say 🤣

Have 100 things to get and still holding out for a whopper black Friday deal for a wearable breastpump. Momcozy and pipetta deffo very reasonable v the elvie.

I’ve been on iron since 13 weeks! Switched to ferrous fumerate (usual would be ferrous sulphate) as I seem to tolerate that better. So relieved that it’s just once a day I think there’s some new research that changed it because in my first 2 pregnancies I was told to take it 3 times a day and that wasn’t fun!

Most women are anaemic in pregnancy especially now, your blood volume increases but your iron levels don’t so in your circulating volume the iron is more diluted, if that makes sense. And it’s good to correct now so that if you lose some blood during/after birth you’ve not already got low iron.

My dad and brother are type 2 diabetics, however delighted to report I don’t have it 🥳🥳🥳

The drink is fine it’s the same as the other 2 times I had it, except this time it was room temperature which is very gross I wish it had been cold! And last time (albeit during Covid times so the clinic was quiet) I got tea and toast afterwards which was a treat! No such luck today!

@OrangeSlices998 @EastLondonCoffeeFiend thanks for your reassurance. I am hoping I might feel less tired with the extra iron.

@OrangeSlices998 that makes sense about the extra blood and low iron thank you! Midwife took my 28 week bloods yesterday so will see what comes back.

I'm in a lot of pain this week with my pubic bone... it's so painful due to SPD. When I move in bed at night ... ouch !! I have a physio session on Monday but I'm not that optimistic it will help. Is anyone else in a similar boat? Feeling tearful today.

@OrangeSlices998 Well done for escaping the GD trap! That's such great news! 🤗

@Redapple21 Not in the same boat, but just wanted to send a big hug through the ether. It seems to be the time of pregnancy where all the not-so-fun stuff seems to be making itself felt. Hope the physio can give you some suggestions of stuff that will help xxx

I’m much achier than my other pregnancies, I slipped in the shower the other day and OUCH my poor pelvis! Have you a pregnancy pillow? I don’t know how I did 2 pregnancies without one it’s saved my hips/pelvis keeping my knees supported. Big hugs to you

@OrangeSlices998 glad you’ve said that (but not glad you’re suffering!), this time around I’m aching SO much more! Not sure if it’s because I’m wrestling a toddler for most of my waking hours (although that doesn’t explain why I feel like I’ve been kicked in the vagina most of the time!)

@Redapple21 me I'm in the same boat!
Terrible pain in the front of my pubic bone most of the time, especially in the gym
But also getting a horrible pain in my right ball and socket joint if I sit down too long.
So God knows what it all is and how to help 🤣
Interest says rest but keep active 🤷🏽‍♀️

@UrbanSquirrel @OrangeSlices998 @herewegoagain123456
Thanks ladies, yes I have a pregnancy pillow which does help, but yes the pain is really sore :-(
I think you're right @UrbanSquirrel third trimester a lot of aches and pains are starting! My feet felt tight in my work shoes yesterday and I thought uh oh, swollen feet ahead 🙈🤣 xx

@Redapple21 im the same I've had to restrict my exercise (modified anyway due to my placenta) but even walking for too long can cause the pain to flair up. It's an awful pain!

To those on iron, I've been taking liquid iron (Boots own which tastes like apple juice) on the recommendation of a midwife and it's very easy to stomach. I know tablets can cause some digestive issues