Gestational Diabetes

[HGS1]

I am now 33 weeks pregnant (with my 2nd). I was told I had GD at 29 weeks - was thrilled! I have been put on a very strict eating regime - lots of low GI carbs and veg. I have to test my sugars 6 times a day - and on the whole they are fine but I am getting fed up of the whole regime now and just want to have the baby. The up side is that I am putting on no weight - as with my 1st pregnancy these last weeks I ate like a pig and put on weight. The NHS staff have been amazing - taking really good care of me - although the attention is a little overwhelming. I asked my consultant about still birth - and he said this is more likely (or though very rare) for those with existing diabetes. I have also been told I will be induced by 40 weeks. Luckily this will be by easter - so I have told my husband I would like the hugest egg he can find!!! How long will I have to stay in hospital for - as will want to get home to my little girl?

I had GD - ended up having a c section (not related to the GD) - DS was fine and not hypoglycaemic - stayed in hospital until 2 days after the section - pretty normal post section recovery nothing to do with the GD.
HTH.

I had it and was only in for 24 hours. I was induced at 38 weeks, had a VBAC and DS2 weighed just under 7 pounds 9 and was on the 50th centile.

As for me, 9 months post-birth I weigh 3 stone less than I did pre-pregnancy, have taken up running and I can safely say that GD changed my life! I have pretty much stuck to the low GI diet as it is now more likely that I will develop diabetes in later life.

3 stone that is amazing - I have only put 5lb on during this pregnancy so far - and that is all the baby. Apart from the easter egg - I am also hoping to shift the rest of my weight. I think GD has given me a shock and insight into the future. I want to be healthy for my kids and have the energy I had when I was 20!

In terms of monitoring the baby - what did they do? Was the baby taken away from you or just checked by your bed side?

Typing quickly as the boys are calling me!

NICE guidelines state that baby should stay with you. My hospital routinely put babies born to mothers with GD into SCBU so I had to make a big song and dance to get him to stay with me. I got a letter from the Head of Midwifery "allowing" this to happen and I made sure everyone involved in our care knew that this was going to happen.

Post-natal monitoring involved hourly blood sugar tests for baby which were all fine. If you breastfeed then this will help regulate baby's blood sugar.

My hospital were really quite unhelpful over the whole issue. Good luck!

Useful to know - I will also make a big fuss - 2nd time around I won't be bullied by the staff. I will give breast feeding a go - everything to help.

I had my dd 3 weeks ago, she is sleeping on my shoulder as i type. I had gd from 28 weeks and was on metformin, she was born by c section at 39 wk, her blood sugars were low when she was born and stayed low for 36 hours, she was kept next to me and pricked before and after every feed. She had to be kept very warm and fed every 2-3 hours. My hospital dont like them to be taken into scbu unless blood sugars stayed below 1.8 for 3 continous tests ~(dd hovered between 1.8 and 2.8). If she had had went to scbu they were going to put her on a glucose drip.

I only puton 2kg (not sure what that is in lbs). Icelebrated the birth with a huge chocolate cake. Got gtt inn3 weeks to see if still diabetic

I had GD with DD. I kept to the strick diet (the only time I've managed it in my whole life!) and didn't gain much weight. I was induced on my due date and was discharged 24 hrs later. It could have been sooner, but I was waiting for a doctor check as i have a history of heart problems in my family. She was a little bit cold when born, so was put under a heater to warm up. But I don't think that was GD related.

You do get a lot of fuss and attention don't you? Don't get to used to it though, as soon as you give birth it all disappears!

Good luck with your easter egg.

Thank you - for all the information. I thought baby number 2 would be so straight forward - how wrong was i!