Gestational Diabetes

[lemontop]

Hi

Just had results of my GTT come back high and have an appointment to see two doctors next week. I think one might be a consultant and the other a dietician. Has anyone had any experience of GD in pregnancy? If so what's likely to happen at my appointment?

I'm a bit concerned that I'll be 31 weeks when I have my appointment which seems a bit late.

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/gestational-diabetes
If you want to read more about gestational diabetes, we’ve got some information here]]. MNHQ

Hi All

Hope you are well

MrsR Glad they're keeping an eye on you, although I can imagine you're climbing the walls, not long now though, but goodness that is a big baby!!

Midwife was fine thank you, although she didn't seem very interested in the BHs and said if they got any worse or I got concerned about them I would really need to call the hospital where I plan to deliver, which wasn't hugely helpful.

BP and everything was fine, no ketones in my urine this time and when she measured me I was measuring 35cms at 34 weeks 5 days so exactly where I should be for their limits. She did say though that it probably wouldn't be very accurate cos when I was lying down I was 'such an odd shape' (she obviously though better of this comment cos she started to try and back pedal using words like unusual etc instead). I think what it is is because I'm not very big when I'm lying down and baby is sticking itself out you can almost see where the back is and its all kind of up to one side. Oh well.

Hope you find things to occupy yourself MrsR.

Have a good day everyone

L, x.

morning ladies one and all

MrsR oh, you poor, poor thing! you might have weeks in hospital now, hope they've got a library of books and videos to occupy you, argh you must be going mad. I can't imagine - I'm already crawling the walls simply being at home, not able to do too much and just playing the waiting game! whats your hospital/room/ward like? I heard that they usually want you to get to 37 weeks unless they get particuarly worried, safest for LO, toughest on you...

Laura 'odd shape', thats a damn weird thing for a M/W to say in my opinion!! cheek - surely we're all sorts of shapes when pregnant, they shouldn't make us feel paranoid...

I'm fine, tired as at 4am bubba decided he didn't like the way I was laying and had a mini disco in there! Never felt him so lively, punching, kicking, wriggling, ouch! nothing I could do except walking round the flat in circles seemed to calm him but it took over an hour. then the alarm went off at 8... and of course he is completely still now, just the normal little squirms again now and again when I am up and about anyway. he feels huge now but they didn't scan me this week as I was measuring 38weeks which is right and they were busy. so I'll get scanned just before induction on 27th just to make sure he's ok I suppose. can't wait now!!

Morning all

Hope you are well (or well as can be expected MrsR)

BB in fairness to the midwife it was a pretty odd shape cos you could almost see the outline of the baby all over to my right hand side and it looked a bit like I only had a bump on that side, but you're right, she could have thought of a slightly more tactful way of saying it!!

Only 11 days to got for you BB are you excited now?

I had a pretty rubbish day yesterday unfortunately. My friend's Dad died (he was only 57) and although he had been ill for a long time I don't think they expected it to be now. It's such a shame because she was away with work and didn't make it back on time. I'm not sure yet when the funeral will be, but I have a funny feeling it will be Wednesday because I have my diabetic/obstetric appointment that day and because its been postponed for a week already I don't really feel I can change it to the following week, I just don't think it would be sensible to not see them for that long. I feel bad though because I really want to be there for my friend and to pay my respects .

Still in a bit of a quandry really and just hoping it won't be on Wednesday.

Apart from that not doing too bad.

Hope you all have good days.

L, x.

Hi ladies,

Sorry to hear your sad news Laura really hope it's not wed, I can understand how you feel about trying to keep your appointment. Such sad news

I also have an odd shaped bump, my baby prefers to sit mostly to the right lol and I think she mostly sits on her side, head down so it's more obvious!!! Makes me smile cos I can feel her bum and legs haha!

I'm still in hospital and in for the long haul, although at the moment they are just aiming to get me to 36 weeks or 36 + something??? (i'm 35 today) My symptoms gradually get worse but the protein in my urine is worrying the docs as it's significant I was given a steroid injection yesterday and today to help mature babies lungs (ouch they sting!), I didn't think they gave them this late but because I have diabetes the babies can have a little more trouble so just being careful, only trouble is they play havoc with your sugar levels. They did warn me but I am spending most of my day on highs of 14 (and thats being v careful with food and higher doses of insulin!) and feel lowsy, should wear off in 24-48 hours - hopefully!!!

Well, that's it for me at the moment, how's everyone else doing???
xxxxxxx

morning all!

*Laura& sorry to hear that, terrible news, whens the funeral now?

MrsR hey there! sounds like your being braver than I would be stuck in hozzie! well done you. how are you feeling in your head? -just have to keep thinking about the long-term, eh.... it'll aaaaall be worth it in the end! (& repeat)

I'm fine here, bit tired as it was DH's birthday this weekend and we decided, as no sign of imminent labour, to get a little gang of folks out impromtu for a low-key mini-bash to a local pub (very local, in case we needed to dash home - i say dash, i mean slooow crawl of course!) which we did, I am really pleased now, as it seemed a real pity to skip his birthday especially as it was a milestone one. he had a bit of a drinkie & a dance whilst I watched from a table of girlies all talking about babies! I was pretty shattered though as getting dressed up and going anywhere seemed like a marathon at the moment, but it was really nice to get out of my own head and catch up with other people's news for a change, had quite a laugh & even one tiny glass of win (which I made last about 3 hours!!) it was funny watching everyone treat me like china every time I manouvered up to the toilets

we only have 9 days to get through now! and we are very much hoping I might wake up any day this week and 'get going' as it were... you never know!! I feel like the bump got lower then higher again then lower this last few days but i could be imagining things as am overexcited now.

Hi All

Hope you are well.

MrsR how are you doing today?

BB Sounds like you had a good time, its good to get out every so often but I know what you mean about it feeling like a marathon.

My OH announced yesterday that he thought it would be a good idea to get a new carpet for our spare room (which we use as a dressing room with all our clothes in etc) and I think we would have time before the baby!! Honestly he has no idea, but the idea of having to get everything out then everything back in and all that upheaval just fills be with dread and I tried to tell him so (ok I screamed at him ). He just doesn't seem to get it, or the fact that I can't just leave him to get on with it or I'll never find anything ever again!! Lol oh well. We'll see what happens with that.

Apparently it looks like my Friend's Dad's funeral will be Thursday afternoon so that is not too bad. Its going to be a couple of hours away so it looks like I will just load up my hospital bags just in case and off we'll go. I saw her yesterday and she seems to be bearing up pretty well at the moment so that is good.

Have a good day all.

L, x.

Oh dear, I think the 'becoming more insulin resistant the further along you get' has kicked in.

That's what I get for feeling quite pleased with myself!! My levels had been fine for ages, then this morning I had my usual weekday breakfast of 2 weetabix and milk, and 2 hours later had a reading of 7.3, whereas normally it would be 5. something or 6. something!!

Then I had my normal lunch of 2 slices of Hovis Seed Sensation bread with Ham and Mayo, which again would normally give me between 5. something and 7. something and it has just given me 8.3!! I was really low at 3.4 before lunch as well!

I know its not as bad as you ladies have been having but its frustrating when something has been working fine and all of a sudden it doesn't seem to be anymore.

Also the diabetic nurses had said that I should be below 9 2 hours after meals, but I'm sure the consultant said it should be round about 7 2 hours after meals - he wasn't very clear.

I'm 35 weeks 4 days today and have an appointment with the consultants (joint diabetic/obstetric clinic) on Wednesday, what do you think the chances of them putting me on insulin are? I would rather avoid it if I can, but MrsR and BB you have both said its not as bad as you think haven't you?

Sorry for the ridiculously long post and rant!!!

L, x.

moooorning!

hey Laura aaah yes, the worsening of diabetes towards the end - fun, isn't it?!?!

mine have all steadily crept up and a couple of meals that used to be good are completely no-go areas unless I do a much bigger injection with it (& then end up mega low a couple of hours later from the too-big injection!) oh & as far as I know it should be under 7.2 not 9.2 (my consultant said under 7 an hour after meals if pregnant and 2 hours after meals normally, and I think normal diabetics get up to 8 as leeway although they've told me to still have it under 7 2 hours after meals when testing without injections the month after having the baby)

you might well get put onto injections for this last few weeks, but you might not, they might see how it goes for another week or so... and although it feels scary it really, really insn't as bad as you might fear, neither the actual injecting itself (make sure you grab a good inch of fat though - tummy or thigh usually - othewise it stings) nor the being on insulin itself. after all, you won't have that long to do it (you stop injecting the minute you give birth) & it really is in yours and LO's best interests as 'high' results give the baby a growth spurt every time which isn't good for them - a relative of mine had GD but it wasn't diagnosed until the final week (she wasn't overweight and her bump was average size too!!), by which time her baby had grown almost too large to deliver, she had a very difficult birth and then they found he had a very enlarged spleen from her untreated GD as well and was very ill for the first months of his life. he is totally fine now by the way, but needs testing for diabetes regularly as well - SO not to scare anyone (!) but its better that we're being treated than not, thats the only point I'm trying to make... and what I have had to remember every time I get the needle out which seems like forever right now (4 times a day since 14 weeks of this pregnancy). and I'm a wuss believe me!! So far my baby seems well and also still within growth parameters so I will be forever grateful to the diabetic diagnosis in the end I'm sure.

Hi All

Thanks BB. I know exactly what you mean, and if the doctors say I have to have it then I will, but would rather I didn't need it if you see what I mean. I suppose I haven't done too badly to get this far without it.

I've had better readings today with altered food (Scrambled eggs for breakfast, soup and 1 piece of bread for lunch) so hopefully might be able to keep that up. I've got the consultant tomorrow so will see what they say.

Have been having v bad tightenings (sore this time but not as frequent) so we'll see what they say about them too!

How are you feeling anyway - its only about a week now til your induction isn't it?

MrsR how are you doing? How are you coping with hosp now?

Hope you are all doing well.

L, x.

hey guys hope everyone is super

Laura let us know how your appointment goes? you never know, you might not have to inject yet...

I'm pretty well thanks, have to admit to getting tired quickly now - went out yesterday on my own to the shops and felt vulnerable for the first time, might not have helped that it was school-kicking-out time with kids all rushing past me!! generally feeling very hefty, walking like John Wayne and lumbering up a hill that normally takes me 10mins or less but yesterday took me an hour, hmmmmmm I might not bother going out on my own again this week when I only have 6 days to go...! I suppose I'm lucky that I've been this mobile throughout the pregnancy, have been walking miles every week - but if the body is saying "rest" to me this week then I shall try

am feeling pretty good in general though - very excited now! Can feel him squirming (not much room for kicks any more!) and hoping he's excited to be coming out any day now...

Hi All

You've done better than I have BB, I am not so good on the walking!! I bet you are excited, have you got everything ready now?

The appointment was a bit of a disappointment to be honest and I left feeling pretty dismissed.

The good news is the diabetic consultant was very nice and was perfectly happy with my blood sugar readings etc. He said he didn't think I needed insulin at this stage and would just continue to monitor me. He also said I didn't need to do my bloods everyday, every second day would be fine. He thinks I might be a genetic diabetic after all though based on my family history so wants me to go to his clinic afterwards because 'he does a bit of genetics'!

The obstetric consultant then came in and said that as long as I was controlling with diet they would just treat me as if they had never found out I had GD and my pregnancy would take the course 'it was destined to' (yes that is a quote).

They didn't scan me, take my blood pressure, check my bloods, check my urine or anything! I know that I should be being positive that they don't think they need to do anything but I think I would feel happier if they had been a bit more thorough in their checks. Plus when I went in there were 6 extraneous people in the room that they didn't even ask if I minded!

I've to go back in 2 weeks, but I think I'll make an appointment for the midwife next week to get my blood pressure checked etc.

I was a bit upset when I came out, but I guess I was just disappointed they didn't say, 'just come in next Thursday and we'll induce you'.

Oh well, how are you all doing today anyway?

L, x.

hi Laura Thats all sounding a bit vague isn't it? no wonder you were disappointed. I mean, its good that you don't have to inject right now, but I would go to a GP or midwife this week as well as you say, especially as they didn't check the things they are absolutely meant to at EVERY appointment (urine, BP). and also you could ask about them 'treating you as if you didn't have GD' cos that sounds odd to me...! maybe its all good though and you're just doing very well so they have full confidence in you!

for me, I have to be tested 4 weeks after birth to see if I have 'lifelong' diabetes or whether it was GD (as it was diagnosed much earlier than normal, they keep saying they're not sure), so I'll have to keep testing and keeping the blood diary & food diaries etc for that month and then we'll see. they're pretty tight on me about control and appointments and testing, but I'm quite glad to be honest, makes me feel like everything is being done that can be - if that makes sense...

getting nervous about natural delivery now, not long to go! very excited but a bit apprehensive about the actual 'day' IYSWIM. Still no real signs of early labour, but the bump seems to have lowered a bit. induction is Tuesday

BB That's what I thought about it being vaugue. I guess I was a bit disappointed that they didn't say come back next week and we'll induce you kind of thing but I am being positive that they feel if my BS is controlled then they don't really need to intervene at this stage.

I guess all consultants are different and this one just works in a different way to the other one I was seeing so I was just a bit wrong footed.

I've to go back in 2 weeks anyway for them to check again, although might not make it that far!! Have been quite twingy over the last few days, loads of BH and a bit of backache which I've never had before. I feel like my bump has dropped too cos I can feel it on my legs when I am walking uphill or upstairs now and have to sit in a very unladylike position at all times or its really uncomfortable! Probably famously last words though and I will still be waiting at 42 weeks!!!

Knowing they are keeping a close eye on you and are doing everything they can makes total sense, I know exactly what you mean. I can also understand you being nervous about the big day, but I'm told by everyone (as I'm sure you are!) that you forget soon enough.

I wonder how MrsR is doing.

Have a good day

L, x.

hey Laura - when are you full term now? i forget... they're not supposed to let you get 'past term' with GD...

yeah, everyone says you forget, am sure it must be at least partly true otherwise most of us would be only children

theres been loads I've enjoyed about being pregnant as well, lots of good times, and learning curves, but right now I want to get to the finish line! I want to see the baby and know he's perfect; as well as, selfishly, be able stop injecting... ho hum

my insulin doses have been doubled this last few weeks of pregnancy as have become pretty resistant, and apparently that makes you gain weight, whether its 'real'weight or water weight, am not fully sure, but its making me extra tired to have gained a quick 4lbs in 2 weeks!!

hope y'all having good days wherever you are.

i forgot to say I really laughed at your comment about 'unladylike' = i know exactly what you mean, my bump is sitting on my legs now and the only way to be comfy is astride my birthing ball, veeery unladylike whilst watching a movie with DH, poor chappy!!

Morning All

Hope you're well.

BB my due date is 19th November so just under 4 weeks now. I've got 2 more weeks of work to keep me occupied.

I had a bit of a big row with OH last night (because he had cleared loads of stuff out of the baby's room but had left loads of pointless stuff in there still) and feel a bit bad about it now, could blame the hormones but I think it was just me being unreasonable.

Although I think I was quite justified when he said 'I've been working hard all day and you've been away all day' to remind him quite firmly that I'd been at a funeral and it wasn't like I had been out enjoying myself!!!

Anyway sorry about the off topic-ness. Re birthing ball you are lucky you find your comfortable, I can only go mine for the enforced half and hour a night cos I find it make my bum go really numb!!

MrsR - thinking of you.

Have a good day all.

L, x.

morning all! hope alls well with everyone.

Laura hiya! aw shame you had a row, hope all ok now? I'd say thats pretty normal behaviour - from both of you!! me & my DH have had similar, me hormonal, unreasonable and controlling & him anxious and wanting to 'do stuff' as the waiting is getting to him as well, we have to remember how they feel as well, which I find really difficult as I'm the one with a person growing inside me after all...!! see, I've gone all hormonal and self-rightous already and its only early in the day...

I'm finding I cannot sleep, baby only seems to like me standing bolt upright or moving around, sitting or dare I say it, shhh, laying down, shhh, are definately not on his agenda - as he arches his back and bum right out of my front and its agony! I found myself almost asleep in the hallway last night standing upright against a wall. ho hum. bump eviction is served young man! get yourself out here and behave...

am trying every cliche in the book to bring on labour before induction tuesday but no signs so far - right, am off to munch 7 pineapples...

Afternoon everyone

Hope you're all well.

BB your post made me laugh, not long now at all to go though, am v excited for you.

Everything blew over with the row fairly quickly (usually does) although I still felt bad so I bought him 2 cakes the next day!

I keep telling my bump that next Thursday will be fine by me, so we'll see if that works! Started the RLT last night so we'll see about that too.

Enjoy your pineapple (!) - Wash it down with a gallon of RLT!!

L, x.

Hi ladies I am 26.5 and just been diagnosed with gestatitional diabetes, i havent read all of thread yet but will get straigh to it.

Just a couple of questions really cos am quite concerned. What did you ladies get after gtt test cos mine was 9.9 and the midwife said this was very high. Going back to hospital on Monday, is there anything i should be doing in the meantime?

Also worried cos had pre-eclampsia with last pregnancy and have heard diabetes can cause pre-eclampsia, is this true? Also can you still have the swine flu jab if got diabetes?

Hi Again

Was your result 9.9 before or after the glucose drink/lucozade? Mine was 9.5 2 hours after and they said it was 'just a bit over', apparently they would expect it to be 9 or under after 2 hours so 9.9 doesn't strike me as very high, but then again I'm not a medical person.

If it was 9.9 before the test then that does seem pretty high.

I've also heard there can be a link between GD and PE but don't know anything about this really, best thing to focus on is that they will be keeping an eye on you and should pick it up v early if it develops.

Lastly, again I'm not sure about the swine flu vaccine but I would think you could still have it no problem. I know normal diabetics are one of the groups they invite to have the traditional flu vaccine every year so don't see why this would be any different.

Have a good day, good luck for tomorrow, x.

BB How did the pineapple eating and RLT swigging go?

Have a good day all.

L, x.

morning all

Laura hey there! TWO cakes?? you must have been veeery hormonal

still no joy, although I d feel really sick and period-pain-like (but I could have just given myself a gripy tummy from pineapple juice and curry haha) Have been taking RLT capsules for a few weeks now, a friend of my SIL credits RLT for her quick firstborn last week! her waters went suddenly at 11am and they had the baby by 10pm, all done and dusted in less than the one day, I wouldn't mind that. she said her contractions were strong and quick and thinks it was the RLT.

if I'm not on for a few days or so you could assume I've gone into hospital and I will post when I can to let you know how its all gone. my mum's arriving today and is going to look after our flat and drive DH back and fore to the hozzie, induction is booked for tues morning...

mummy hi there. Um, mine was 17.7 2 hours after GTT!! oops. in the meantime try to follow a Low G.I. diet and try not to worry too much I advise you to get a list of questions together for your monday appointment, guaranteed you'll forget stuff to ask otherwise! plenty of stuff in this thread you could pick out to ask your specialists... flu jabs are no problem for diabetics as far as I know. good luck!

BB lol I did feel v bad!!

Good Luck for Tuesday (or before fingers crossed!!)

L, x.

Hi All

Hope you're all having a good day.

BB not sure if you will see this, but good luck for tomorrow!

MTP how did it go at the hospital today?

L, x.

Hi Laura it went ok at the hospital today, diabetic nurse dint seem concerned so that has stopped me worrying so much. They are going to try and control with diet, seeing dietician and consultant on Friday so said no sweet stuff till then x I have to take my bloods 2 hours after every meal suppose you just get used to it but my finger has bruised already!!

Hi MTP

Glad it went ok and they have put your mind at rest a bit.

You do get used to taking your bloods - you'll be surprised, although your fingers will be a bit sore for a few days. Try alternating what finger you use and that might help.

L, x.