Gestational Diabetes General Chatter #5

[snowchickie79]

Hi all
Just dropping by -

Snow Chickie - congrats on the borth of Chloe, she is a cutie and I love the name.

My news is that I had an endo appointment on Friday after the 6 week test and I got the all clear. I also got the usual lecture about not gaining weight as I was a high risk of getting type 2 as time goes by (as we have all heard from Ob's, DE's and everyone else!). So I am happy for the moment, and he said there isn't much I can do to prevent it next time, (as my weight is fine) it may or may not happen and it may or may not require insulin.

Thomas is still growing, and has started smiling a bit! Although still likes 3-4 hour feeds day and night - looking foward to him going a bit longer at night.

Petals - Thanks. Yes everyone has said how much they liked her name. We had two names short listed and hubby let me pick which one.
Great to hear about your GTT results, you must be so relieved and it was good to hear that you were all good. This is my biggest fear at present and I'm finding I'm still sticking to a very similar diet to what I had whilst PG, which for me is actually quite similar to what I've always eaten, but still the GD is in the back of my mind.
Chloe lets out a little smile after feeds but more to do with wind than doing it on purpose.. Makes me laugh every time.. She is feeding about every 4-5 hours at present, more towards the 5 hours which worried me at first but I figure if she wasn't full and content then she'd be screaming down the house. I had some problems in the few days before milk came in but BF seems to be going well now.

Congratulations, Snowchickie!
She's gorgeous.
I hope everything is going great with you all.

With me I have tested a few times to see what my levels are after I had certain foods.
I tested just under 2hrs after yesterdays breakfast and got a 5.0 so I was pleased with that, since what I ate would have put me right over before.
If I think about it (and am not too lazy) I'll see if chocolate and other stuff does badly for me.

I'm starting to think about having the GTT test more now.
My checkup is next monday, so it's starting to worry me (I'm naturally a worrier) and I can't stop thinking how it'll turn out.

xoxo

Tennykins - I'm right there with you on the natural worrying situation. I suffer from anxiety so that is not helping the situation. I had high BP at the beginning of labour and OB said I was very close to pre-eclampsia so if I hadn't gone into labour naturally I would have been had a spike in BP in the days afterwards. Day before I left hosp I was still a little high on BP but OB said that can take a few weeks to come back down. So that worries me also..

Does anyone know much about constipation in babies?
Ethan has been constipated since we got home. We tried brown sugar in water (recommended by midwife) for 2 weeks. Now he's been on Coloxyl for about a week. He seems to be a bit better. Not in so much pain, but his poos are still a little pebbly.
I have been wondering if it might be the formula. He has been on SMA, but I changed him today to the Guardian Pharmacy brand formula.
I'm sure it will all sort itself out but thought I'd ask while I was here.

Becci - Afraid I can't help with this. Chloe seemed constipated in the few days after birth but trust me she has sorted that well and truly out now and pretty much each nappy is a dirty one. She is making her father very proud with her noise effects! Maybe you might need to experiment with formula. A friends little one had this problem and ended up being formula related and matter of finding one that agreed with him.

[Becci]

Thanks SnowChickie.
Ethan is taking after his father too in the bottom noise stakes! He has plenty of wind (both top and bottom). He is actually quite lazy bringing up his wind (just like his big bro and uncle) so he has Infacol drops every feed. I'm hoping that he will be able to stop them soon as he seems better at bringing it up now.
I'm going to see how this Guardian formula goes as it's only $12 a tin! Hopefully it works.
Once again Thanks

[Jewel]

Becci - I hope the new formula helps. Poor little mite. I have no other ideas to help, sorry. We use s26 gold. $12 is greatttttttttt!

Snowchickie - I hope your BP has come down. Great to hear your BFing is going well!!

[Becci]

Had to take Ethan to drs today as he now has conjunctivitis. I ask dr about Coloxyl and he said recommended dose is 10 drops. Bottle was saying .3ml, so now we have eye dropper to measure it. His poos have been much better since yesterday though so I think the formula is working.

[belfie]

Dear ladies,

I've been meaning to pop in and say hi....

and first of all: CONGRATS snowchickie79 and Chloe!
big big congrats, and such a gorgeous name you've picked too! Sounds like your BSL's are great too which is nice. Having only had one 9.4 that sounds pretty good, I've had more than that over 9 in just a few weeks (and even when I've eaten well too).

Petals - congrats on the all clear! That's fab, and wonderful your handsome boy is smiling!

Tennykins - I hope your check-up yesterday went ok, sending you good luck vibes and sounds like your levels are pretty good, surely that's a good sign?

Becci - I'm not even going to try answer the constipation question as I have no idea, but good luck with it, and sounds promising with the new formula.

I'm feeling bigger by the day. My BSL's have been a bit crazy... one over 8 (which was meant to be my insulin increase trigger...but I know I ate something bad... so I haven't called up my DE). I thought I'd watch 'em for a day or so... and then got some 5's yesterday (I NEVER get 5's - I'm usually always 6's and 7's) so I'm thinking things are good after all! Maybe I've had a delayed benefit from stopping work - just took a few days to show up!!

I've been getting stuck into the house & nursery - assembled my cot & glider chair.. woo hoo, heaps of fun. I've got so much I want to do, but I'm trying to prioritise... just to make sure I'm ready if anything happens early! I'm still getting in some great R&R which is bliss. Nap this arvo, and movies yesterday with a friend... OMG I am LOVING mat leave... figure I have to make the most of it! I'm meeting with my doula tomorrow, so that should be a good chat re birth. She's lent me some books which are interesting, but freak me out a little as they're very anti-induction... I don't like the thought of being caught in this whole induce vs not induce tug of war!

Hope everyone else is going well.
Belfie

[kgb]

Hi ladies

I am new to this forum. I am 30.5 weeks pregnant and found out on Monday I have GD. I cried most of Monday whilst I got my head around it all, I am 97kg so think its probably weight related, I have put on 19kgs so far. I am going to see an educator and Diabetics Doctor on Friday. In the mean time I got a testing machine from my dad has type 2 Daibeties, I tested 5.2 before breakfast, 5.0 after breakfast. I am hoping to control this with diet as I would hate to go on insulin.

I am booked in for an elective ceaser on 23 October. Is it true the first 24 hours the baby is taken away from the mother for testing? That really is distressing to me.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

KGB

[Jewel]

Hey, kgb.
Sorry to hear about your GD! I cried loads and loads when I found out, over a few days too. I was lucky that I could control mine with diet. Good luck with your appointments and I hope everything works out for you.
Those levels you got seem gooood, so fingers crossed.

As for the taking the baby away after birth, I'd never heard of that. My son wasn't taken away from me. He did get his BSL's tested a few hours after birth, and a couple of other times since it dropped really low cause he wouldn't attach to get some milk.. but once he had some milk he was fine.
I'm not sure if being in insulin would make any difference and they take the baby away. Becci might be able to help there.


We're all here for you anytime.
I hope you've had a H&H pg so far.

Belfie - Sounds great. I bet your nursery looks fantastic! Not long to go. Whoo hoo!

Becci - I'm gald Ethan is doin' better.

[kgb]

Thank you Tennykins I am glad to hear the baby wasn't taken away from you after birth. Did you put on much weight during your pregnancy and could this be the cause of my GD?

KGB

[Jewel]

I put on hardly any weight of my own. After I found out and the diet and whatnot, I was losing my own weight, but then only started gaining a few kgs in the end.
In my first pg, I packed on loads of kilos and I didn't have GD then.

I'm not sure if weight is a factor in GD. Some really overweight people don't get GD, whereas other skinny ladies do. I'm not sure.

I'm not exactly skinny myself though. Lol.

[belfie]

Hey KGB,

Awww big I know the feeling - I cried & cried when I found out (the other girls will testify to that, as I went through it on here not that long ago!). So saying, it DOES get better and easier to manage, it's just always a shock to start with. I also asked the same question as you re baby being taken away, and from what I've seen & heard, no-one on here has had their baby taken away for any period of time due to low blood sugar.

As for weight gain, I'm not sure. From what I've read, it's not necessarily a factor (maybe BMI when you first got PG is?). I know my BMI was in the overweight category when i first got PG, and I'd put on 5 kg by 24 weeks. I then put on 1kg till 30 weeks which I've now lost again, so that's been an unexpected bonus for me I guess. But I think everyone is very very different in terms of weight gain & like Tenny, I've heard of lots of skinny PG ladies getting GD. My dad also has Type II (I think that's the biggest risk factor TBH), but your levels sound really good! I hardly ever get 5's (and yes, I am on insulin).

I also found the diet for GD seems to be a bit different to Type II (less focus on fat & carb reduction - seems they really worry about cutting calories too much with PG) - according to my DE anyway... so will be interested to hear what they tell you to do. I found it wasn't as bad as I expected (and I have a very restricted diet due to another dietary condition).
So post your questions here, and we'll do our best to answer 'em... I had heaps of questions when I first got diagnosed.

Belfie

[Becci]

Welcome KGB!!!

Your readings sound good to me so far.

I started off diet controlled and then was on inculin for the last 6 weeks. I was terrified at the thought, but in all honesty it wasn't that bad. I thought the needles were going to hurt no end but I hardly felt them at all. In comparison taking your bsl is like cutting your finger off comparred to the insulin needles! And I'm a real wus and needlephobe!

I was over weight to start with (107.8kg) but actually lost weight, mostly in my first trimester and I didn't have morning sickness. I managed to loose 15kg form conception to post birth!
To answer your question though. Being over weight is a risk factor as the fat around your pancreas affects the insulin effectiveness. But I don't know how much putting on weight increases your chances. That being said there are many 'skinny' women with GD and many over weight women without it too. So don't beat yourslef up over putting on weight!

I have never heard of babies being taken away for 24 hours post birth either. I think whoever said this might have meant that they will have to go and have testing in the first 24 hours. The only time I can see them taking bubs for 24 hours is if they were having breathing problems or something. Not trying to scare you but there is a chance of breathing probs for GD babies as the hormone that the placenta produces which messes with the insulin also inhibits lung maturation. But we never had a problem and Ethan was induced two weeks early.
The only time Ethan was taken away was to have his bsl taken (they use a special reading machine,much more acurate than glucometres) and then they insisted on either DBF, myself of one of our mothers to go with them. So he was never out of our sight without our permission.

I hopr this helps, and please don't be too scared to ask us questions. Remember there are no stupid questions and I'm sure you will find everyone here welcoming and helpful. We are all in the same boat here.

[kgb]

Thanks ladies for the welcome. I appreciate having people to relate to. The positive side is that I only have eight weeks to go and there could be a lot worse that could have happenend.

KGB

[kgb]

I am freaking out, for lunch today I had a cheese and salad roll and avocado on a multigrain roll with mushroom soup from our work cafeteria and a diet coke. I got a reading of 8.2!!! This has been my lunch for the past couple of month, little did I know I know I had GD, my poor baby!

It must have been the grain roll, this reading is almost the same reading I got after having the sugary drink at the Glucose test.

What has been the worst reading and which food is the worst (I know the white stuff is meant to be the worst)? Does diet coke affect insulin? (I know there is no sugar).

Sorry to be a pain.

KGB

[Becci]

KGB - cheese would account for some of the carbs as well as the roll. Not sure how big your roll was though. I'm unsure as to the carbs in an avocado either. I don't drink diet coke so can't help you there. Was there any dressing on the salad?
Hold on I might be getting ahead of myself here. Have to been educated on carbs and how much you can have? I know some of the girls weren't told that stuff and it's really important.

Personally I found grainy bread ok, especially the 9 grain one with wholemeal. I could have it with either baked beans or a couple of eggs at lunch and had great readings. Mind you I was home for most of my lunches at that stage so I could make those things.

Oh and you're not being a pain! We all had these questions when we were first diagnosed too!

[belfie]

hey KGB,

You're not a pain at all! Re the food, I had a look at the Diabetes Australia site which has a sample diet for GD, and I would have thought what you had was ok...? When I got to the DE and told her what i'd looked at, she said "oh well that's what i would have given you anyway!".

The other thing I've found is that the same food can give different readings... based on hormones/baby growth etc... so please don't stress that you would have been that high every time you had it. Plus the GD may only have developed more recently. With Diet Coke, I've had that occasionally and it doesn't seem to change my readings.

Foods that I seem to get away with are noodles, basmati rice, some seedy bread (but I'm wheat-free as well, so that's a different issue).

Hope your levels are going well & keep posting your Q's
Belfie

[1MOREPLZ]

Hi

just thought i would join this thread...

just got home from hospital visit with diabetes endocrinologist...
I am 33 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and have GD.. GREAT
this is my third bub (no previous GD) this will be my third ceasar also.
My readings have been up/down, so i am now on insulin twice daily.. before dinner and before breakkie 4 units each time.

Dr scared the crap outta me.. i know if not controlled properly bub can be BIG, but to tell me that he can have breathing probs when born, or just in rare cases simply die in utero..scared me BIG time...
Anyways thats me...

[melbel]

KGB,

What you had for lunch seems like an okay meal. The only suggestions I have is that if you had mayo or dressing on the sald that may have contained sugar or the other thing is that for some people (not all...food things tend to be very individual to each person) you may just be one of those people who don't do well with breads.
Diet and any type of Diabetes is soooo individual. For example some people like a glass of milk before bed and for others it shoots their sugar levels up big time....some people cant handle anything carby at break fast time and others can...you will find it is trialand error for a little bit to find your groove. As for avocado it shouldnt be an issue and diet coke is defintely fine ti will have no effect on insulin or BSLs.

Katones...... i know what the doctro said seems scary (and really he shoulda kept his bigmouth shut and delivered the inofrmation in a less sensationalist way!) but in reality the chances of any of those things happening is only a small fraction above what it is for the normal population anyways. If you can control your sugars reasonable well the risks are tiny, they are there but theyare tiny. Years ago before we had blood glucose monitoring and decent purified insulins there was definitely a bigger risk of all that but today with modern monitoring it shouldnt be an issue.

I recommend to anyone who want to learn more about diet to find a copy of "The New Glucose Revolution" by professor Jennie brand Miller. It contains all the latest stuff about the glycaemic index of food and how to use it to control your sugar levels better. it is easy toread and comes with companon boks with recipes and shopping guides for all the food you can get at the supermarkets and take aways etc..
Also grab a copy of the magazine Diabetic Living....it comes out every two months and has stacks of awesome recipes in it that evryone in the family can enjoy!

Also someone mentioned about medium carb not low carb...just wanted to clarify this so people dont get confused. There are two things to consider with diet one is how much carb and theother is what type of carb to eat.
You shuld try and eat low GI carbs at all meals and try and avoid high GI carbs at all costs. a little bit of medium GI carbs is okay but try to aim for as much of the low GI carb as possible. With regard to how much that depends on how much you normally eat...if you normally do not eat a lot of carby food then there is no point trying to start now but on the other hand if most of your food intake is carbohydrate you may want to cut it back a bit The aim is eat a moderate amount of mostly low GI carbohydrate in your diet...does that make sense? Hope this helps out the newbies a little bit! tell me to butt out if I am sticking my nose in!

[1MOREPLZ]

well since my first jab yesturday and eating alot better yesturday.. this morning my BSL was great and i am determined that they are going to stay that way...

One thing though.. i am only on 4units before breakkie and 4 before dinner, but after having my jab i feel quite nautious..