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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Gestational diabetes - what happens next?

11 replies

ScaredOfEverything · 01/11/2008 23:19

Hello everyone.
I am 30 weeks pregnant and have just found out I have gestational diabetes. The hospital has been wildly unhelpful in explaining the implications to me and Im not going back until next week when they can fit me in for an appointment.

I have started to adjust my diet already. I wondered what else it means? I believe it may mean I am going to have a big baby (worrying, as am 5'1 and small boned). Does it mean I mustnt go overdue? Will they induce me early? Talk me into a C section?

Any pearls of wisdom would be gratefully received.

THank you all

XX Scared

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lauraloola · 02/11/2008 11:05

Hi, not sure if this will help but my friend had gestational diabetes. She changed her diet, was monitored weekly and had an 8lb baby. She was induced on her due date - Her previous baby was 8lb 6oz so this one wasnt big. She had scans every 2 weeks to make sure the baby was ok and of a good size - If the baby had shown as being big they would have delivered earlier.

She attended a clinic weekly and was put on insulin towards the end.

Was it your midwife you spoke to? If not have a chat to her as they will be clued up and give you some words of advice.

Good luck x

ScaredOfEverything · 02/11/2008 11:18

Thanks LauraLoola.
To be honest, my midwives are pretty awful. After 3 days of trying to get through, they told me I had it, but had no time to see me for a fortnight!

I paid to go and see a nutritionist as I didnt feel comfortable to wait, but I really dont know what the other implications are. Especially regarding when they like you to have your baby. I havent been told anything about extra care / scans.

Im not feeling a lot of love from my hospital

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lauraloola · 02/11/2008 11:24

Oh my God. My friend kept having scans to see if they needed to deliver early.

Is your GP any good? Maybe have a chat to him/her?

I forgot to say - When her little boy was born he had to have some tests to see if it had passed through to him. She went with him and he was fine. She was back to normal straight after having him and is enjoying lots of chocolate now!!!

I think there is a thread on here somewhere for women with it...

lauraloola · 02/11/2008 11:26

I cant find it now. Hopefully someone else will have a look at this one and find it.

ScaredOfEverything · 02/11/2008 12:28

That is amazing. When I called to ask for the results, the midwife was really dismissive and just said "we'll tell you what to do at your appt, Im having my lunch". Ive been really worried. She didnt even give me a diet sheet or tell me where to go. Ive been really concerned, and ended up spending £100 to go to a private nutritionist.

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Tee2072 · 02/11/2008 12:46

First of all, try not to panic! I'm sorry you're having such a horrid time with your Mid-wife team and you might want to think about making a complaint after you deliver.

I would try and call the diabetes clinic at your regular local hospital. I have type II and I know my diabetic nurses are wonderful about answering questions. They might be willing to answer yours as well.

A good rule of thumb for diabetic eating is to imagine your plate is cut in thirds, with one half two even sections and the other half one big section. Then fill one small section with meat/protein, the other small section with carbs, potato or bread, grain, etc, and the third section with vegetables.

They should see you more often with GD, and if they don't say they will ask them why. Go to your next appointment with your list of questions about GD and demand answers!

ScaredOfEverything · 02/11/2008 15:13

thanks Tee2072. I did have the tests done in the diabetes clinic, but they were very busy (so much so that they were chatting when they took my blood test and made 2 inch bruises on both arms...). when I called them they just referred me back to the mean midwifes!

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Tee2072 · 02/11/2008 15:50

Okay, I am not sure how chatting = busy, but if you say so.

I would call the mid-wives again and insist on a sooner appointment. You really need to advocate for yourself and the baby. waiting two weeks is really not acceptable.

EthelredTheUnready · 03/11/2008 21:48

Hello SOE..

I had GD in my first pregnancy, and have just had second GTT in my second at 27 weeks and am pissed off to find that I HAVEN'T got it this time.. Although it was a pain, there were so many silver linings that I would be quite happy to do it again... so don't worry!
Get to see a specialist diabetic team asap and remember that you are going to get much better care and attention than your average pregnant mum. Whats more, you are not likely to put on weight and won't have to wait forever at the end of pregnancy, since most people with GD are induced at between 38-40 weeks... I didn't ha ve a big baby, because the GD was monitored so carefully. She was 6lb11... (I am also 5'1!) I had superb care from a lovely team of midwives and personal attention throughout the final stages of pregnancy, lots of scans to make sure all was well, and 2 specialist midwives at the birth, while others were being shipped off to other hospitals as it was overcrowded. I had a natural birth (only gas and air), and though induction isn't great I think I was better prepared than most of my contemporaries - Of the 9 people in my NCT group, only the 2 of us who had GD ended up having natural births with no intervention! What is more there was great camradarie with others with GD - we were meeting up at the clinic every week and some of them are still friends today!

Most people seem to manage perfectly well with just managing diet. I didn't and within a few days i was on insulin and by 32 weeks was taking 60 mls of insulin in 4 injections a day - This was a pain (the needles aren't bad - just like a pen - but the needing to time your mealtimes so you can do the blood sugars and injections at the right time is annoying)...

And not being able to eat lovely cake in the third trimester felt unjust, but really it wasn't that bad at all.

GD is dangerous if not monitored and controlled, but with good monitoring and diet, it should be completely fine. The placenta tends to break down earlier, which is why many people get induced or that was the reason in my case, but the baby was (and is) absolutely fine and lovely. As soon as that placenta is gone, neither you nor your baby will have diabetes any more! (I had the mince pies lined up in the labour ward waiting for me!)

Of all the things that can go wrong, it is by no means the worst - It sounds scary, as diabetes conjurs up such horrors but it aint so bad at all.

Very good luck with it..

Although I am looking forward to a non induced birth this time around, I will not be disaappointed if it does happen again, so hang in there!

EthelredTheUnready · 04/11/2008 07:29

I thought I better add something a bit more helpful for your current situation...!

You should be under a multidisciplinary diabetes team, including a diabetes consultant and obstretician, dietician and specialist midwives. You may be able to find out who this team is through the Diabetic Clinic at your local hospital and try to talk to them directly - in my experience the specialist midwives kicked ass if they thought that their clients weren't getting proper treatment from local midwives, who in my experience just look a bit confused at the mention of GD!

Your GP may also be able to find out and refer.

Diabetes UK have a careline which can help and give advice and there is a useful website at diabetes.co.uk

RE diet - basically its a low GI diet - no sugar or cakes, and try to stick to wholegrain and wholefoods, rather than white bread and unrefined foods. Avoid fruit juices but fruit is usually fine as the sugar is less easily absorbed. And avoid foods with a sugar level of over 10g per 100g, which you can spot from most labelling on food. They also like you to eat lowish fat. Basically anything which slows down sugar absorption-

There are low GI diets on the web, though obviously you are not trying to lose weight and Diabetes.co.uk have recipes etc.

If you want to measure your blood sugar levels yourself, you can get a monitor from the chemist and check sugar levels. I was told to check 30 mins after eating and aim for a 5-7 level, but others I know were on a regime which allowed them anything up to 8 60 mins after eating. If it starts going to double figures, push that referral faster! Again Diabetes.co.uk have some guidelines.

I hope that is helpful!

All the best!

ScaredOfEverything · 09/12/2008 21:40

Hi there, I have just spotted there were more replies on my thread and felt rude I hadnt said thank you, so thank you!

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