Gestational diabetes

[wingingit1987]

I’ve been told today that I have gestational diabetes. I’m 26 weeks pregnant. Can anyone tell me what I should expect? Did you need extra scans? Was your birth plan different? Did you need medication?

Im not due to see the diabetes team until next week so I feel quite overwhelmed with it all.

So not me personally but my best friend had it. She had a few extra growth scans, went on metformin medication and I think they don’t like you going over 40ish weeks so may advise induction or c section. She found the gestation diabetes uk website to be very useful for diet to help her make food decisions and how to pair carbs with proteins and fats.

You got this!

Thank you so much for your reply.

I didn't find out I had it until 32 weeks. You will definitely get more growth scans throughout the last 10 weeks or so. Your birth totally depends on whether baby is measuring bigger or not. They won't let you go over 40 weeks with GD so it would be an induction or section at that point. However, if your baby is measuring large for their gestational age (mine was), then they will more than likely bring baby early at 38/39 weeks. I wasn't allowed an induction due to the size of my DS so I had a planned section at 38 weeks, he was born 10lb 7oz at 38 weeks, but that wasnt just the GD, I make large babys anyway. My cousin was allowed to try induction at 39 weeks cause her baby wasn't too big.
It all depends on fetal growth at this point, and also whether your body responds to diet changes/medication. My blood sugars never improved until I started taking metformin. Some women need insulin. This does mean your baby needs extra checks after birth, they have to monitor babys blood sugars after feeds to check they haven't become reliant on any medication taken by you.

Oh sorry, just to add, you will also get given the finger prick blood sugar kit and you will have to monitor your levels until the end of pregnancy. Normally first thing on the morning and 1 hour after every meal.

I am type 1 diabetic. I have extra scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. My 28 week scan showed baby’s estimated weight and abdomen size off the chart (even though just slightly). My consultant said with regards to when they will induce me it all depends what happens at my 36 week scan as the baby might have levelled out the growth and may not be so big but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. She had always said they don’t like to go past 39 weeks due to the risk of placental problems and still birth however I’m not sure if that’s the case for type 2 and gestational diabetes too but I’d assume so. My sugar levels are actually very well controlled and still my baby has gone big. Being diabetic puts you at higher risk for pre eclampsia so they will keep check of that. I always have 2+ of protein but my blood pressure is always normal so there’s never concerns. I have been having booked x2 a week ctg monitoring to check my baby due to a decrease of movements so at my hospital the doctors do take my concerns seriously due to being high risk. At the extra growth scans they check the fluid and blood flow. I think if you are struggling so much with controlling your sugar levels they will just put you on insulin. It literally takes seconds to inject yourself and doesn’t hurt the needle is tiny. They should give you a cgm so you and them can continuously check your sugar levels via an app on your phone. This does not hurt at all to put on, it’s like pushing down on a stamp and you feel absolutely nothing.

Thank you. I know baby is definitely measuring ahead, as that’s what prompted them to do the GTT. This is really helpful thanks- as lets me get my head round possible induction/c section.

Thank you

I was diagnosed at 16 18 weeks I think. It's a long time ago. I had growth scans every 2 weeks . Started on metformin but it made no difference. Went onto insulin and a veery strict diet. Plus took blood sugar readings several times a day. I wasn't overweight. My Father type 1 diabetic.

Despite all this Baby was huge. Risk of shoulder dystoxia so had planned section at 37 weeks. As that is considered full term. He was 8 pounds 10. Jaundice and had sugar issues but was fine in a couple of days.

They will keep a very close eye on you. Please try not to worry

You will get growth scans and probably be offered an induction. If you can control your blood sugars through diet alone you won't need any medication.

I had it with my 2nd set of twins. I found out at 28 weeks. I became obsessed with my diet and so strictly followed a food plan created by a nutritionist that when I gave birth I weighed a stone less than when I got pregnant. Not to worry though - I managed to gain it all back plus some over the years! :) I was on insulin too but it really wasn't awful.

Thank you for your reply

Thank you

Thank you

Yeah it was fine just a lot more involved. I went to a clinic and they talked to us about diet, I had to do a prick test four times a day and wrote my results in a little book. Saw a prenatal endocrinologist every two weeks for scan, blood test and to look at my book.

The worst part was not being able to eat any sugar and that even carbs were limited. Nuts, cheese and yoghurt were good friends.

They were happy for me to have a vaginal birth but didn’t want baby to go over 39 weeks so had a planned c section. Baby came out nine and a half pounds.

They test you after birth and ‘normally’ you don’t diabetes anymore.

It’s only overwhelming if you let it be. The NHS for me were good and supportive. Some ladies had to go on insulin but it was like 1 in 10 in my group.

It will be fine. Good luck.

As a pp said too if u do need insulin its not awful. You get used to it and doesn't harm the baby. It helps it obviously as regulates your sugar levels.

As soon as yiu give birth the gd goes and baby fine.

There is a higher risk of you getting type 2 later on in life but I never did. 16 years later

I had GD with both my pregnancies. Gestational Diabetes uk website was a godsend, so
much more useful information than the hospital dietician who was pretty useless.

finger pricks a pain in the arse but you get used to it and I became quite obsessed with my diet.

diet and metformin for dc1 and insulin for dc2. Dc1 came naturally 3 days earlier than due date at 7 lb 12oz. Induced at 38 weeks with dc2 as on insulin (I was already partially dilated so he was on his way anyway) 8lb 8oz. Neither had any issues after birth other than a slight bit of jaundice which isn’t unusual anyway.

I've had it twice; both diet controlled and no need for medication.

They won't want you to go overdue by a week so most likely will be booked for induction.

You'll have a yearly blood test 3mths after birth as you do have a higher risk of developing diabetes unfortunately.

I was very overwhelmed upon initial diagnosis but was well looked after and you'll get in the swing of blood testing and diet control before you know it.

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

I got diagnosed at 24 weeks. I couldn’t get my fasting sugars down (the ones first thing in the morning) and I eventually ended up medicated. That felt like a huge failure but in hindsight I should have just accepted I was following the advice but I just needed more support. I ended up on insulin towards the end of my pregnancy but it was fine.

I had growth scans every two weeks and a plan made at the 36 weeks scan. They were happy that my blood sugars were controlled with insulin so happy me for to go to 39 weeks but not beyond that because of the insulin. (Spoiler alert - I had a scary moment but it was absolutely fine so don’t panic reading this bit.) That scan was actually something like 36+5 and on a Tuesday. On the Thursday night/early hours of Friday I had a hypo in the middle of the night, so lowered my insulin dose and then had a too high reading the following day (Saturday)The Saturday morning I then also had reduced movements. We went to maternity assessment and baby was just being awkward, measured fine on the CTG. Couldn’t get hold of the diabetes team because it was a weekend but spoke to the obstetrics consultant and he saw I already had an induction planned for 39 weeks. He said the only thing they could do was bring it forward a week. There was no immediate concern to bring it to then (37 weeks) but it was up to me if I wanted to stick with 39 weeks. I was very fed up of being pregnant and that incident had me so anxious so I accepted the 38 week induction (which was really positive for me).

They will monitor your blood sugars throughout labour. I threw up all throughout my labour but my sugars remained stable (first time for everything). They also monitor your bloods after birth and baby’s. It’s quite distressing thinking about your baby having their bloods done so frequently but they are so sleepy after being born (initially anyway) that any discomfort is quickly forgotten. My baby’s bloods were fine for the first set taken but dropped on the second set but that is because I was struggling to breastfeed after throwing up all throughout labour, we gave some formula and all bloods were in the normal range. Baby was predicted to be big but very average - we had to go get some smaller clothes actually.

The gestational diabetes website is good and there is a FB page. It’s helpful in giving you the advice if you want to fight induction/section based on guidelines and wanting to be treated as an individual case. However, I think some of my feelings of being a failure around medication stemmed from that group. So it’s good to take it with a pinch of salt (metaphorically, not literally!)

A pp comment reminded me I couldn't bf though I wanted to. Whilst that wasn't to do with the gd more that ds was early the fact he had low blood sugar meant he had to be fed hourly by bottle.

I didn't beat myself up tho. Ateotd I just wanted a healthy baby and he was fine.

Best of luck to you both

Thank you!

That’s really helpful to know- as I normally breastfeed. Thank you