Gestational Diabetes - Looks like i have it

Well im waiting on a return call from my OB but when she says she would only call if there was a problem and she calls than i guess there is a problem! also when i missed the call and returned it the receptionist mentioned that she was mailing stuff out for me so i guess its confirmed i have Gestational Diabetes!

And Obviously i am MAJORLY freaking!

So i want to hear everyones story!
How did ur pregnancy go with GD?
Did u have bub early?
Was bub big?
Did u have a virginal or C-section?
Did they have to monitor u while in labour? if so what did that involve?
Was everything ok with Bub when born?
Was everything okay with you during labour and after?

SOOOOOO SOOOOO many questions from a majorly majorly freaked out, stressed and very upset person here!

:hug: Oh hun I have no advice I really hope the receptionist was wrong :hug: xx

Yep, I had it.

Don't get me wrong it was tricky to manage in terms of eating the right food and even though I did everything right, I had to have insulin in the end. To me, this was no big deal, honestly. But if I'd been able to exercise, I may have been able to manage it without the insulin. Couldn't exercise, couldn't walk more than 25 metres because I also had pelvic instability and was housebound for six months. I had a caesar about 10 days early because of the pelvic instability, not because of the diabetes.

In terms of baby size, my GD baby was actually TWO POUNDS lighter than my non-GD baby, so go figure and I only put on 3 kilos in the entire pregnancy, and this was without being able to walk very far let alone genuinely exercise remember. The paediatrician said this was because I'd managed the GD so well.

DD was fine. They did three blood sugar readings on her which were all good and she didn't have to have formula.

I felt a little under par for a couple of days after the birth but again, no big deal. They tell you that GD disappears after the birth but I don't think they necessarily mean 'immediately'. But because I wasn't taking insulin after the birth (on advice), I think it took a few days for my body to really get back to normal. I'm meant to do another glucose reading soon to make sure that's happened but I feel absolutely fine. There's an increased chance that I will now get diabetes within 20 years but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

So it's not all doom and gloom :) and although losing baby weight is never a priority for me, a week after I had DD2 I was 4 kilos lighter than when she was conceived and I feel the healthiest I have in years.

I know it's scary getting the diagnosis and working out what you can and can't eat can be overwhelming but it it is possible to manage it very effectively.

Fiona - thankyou for your reply!

I just feel like such a failure! like my body can never do anything right when pregnant! 1st Miscarriages, than with DD i had to have progesterone injections and now this!
and i know i will be unable to handle the fact of a c-section if i have to have one! this is going to sound bad but i feel like im already resenting this baby a bit! and i know its not the babys fault but already its due in the middle of my uni exams and i just don't want it to come early! and than of course im so worried about the baby being sick after birth!
Im really not coping atm!

Ahhhhh don't worry hj - I always scream at the computer when I see the phrase "trust your body" - I'm like, "trust my body, you gotta be kidding me. The body that goes completely potty when it's pregnant, don't make me laugh."

I tell everyone I love being a mum, can't stand being pregnant and if I could bypass the pregnancy bit and go straight to the baby part, that would suit me down to the ground. But we have to deal with the cards we're dealt unfortunately.

As I said, I had a caesar because of my stupid pelvis but as far as I know you don't automatically have to have a caesar just because of the GD - it will depend on how your blood sugars are looking and whether they think your baby is being badly affected. I'm not even sure it's about the size of the baby - more about how your blood sugars are looking because really anyone can have a big baby so that's not the issue. And insulin manages the blood sugars so in my simple world, no need to have a caesar at all (unless you want one). That might be oversimplifying, can't remember all the ins and outs from when I was first diagnosed now.

Just cut yourself a bit of slack. You've only just found out and we all freak out at the start. You'll get there mate.

I'm so sorry to hear you've got GD. :hug:
I remember when I found out I just cried and cried and cried. I was very suprised to have gotten it with #2, but not #1. :dunno:

How did ur pregnancy go with GD?
I had it with #2. Pretty good actually. I didn't really end up on putting much weight on. During the start and middle of my pregnancy I actually lost my own weight.
Gotta be happy with that. :)
I was lucky I could control mine by diet.

Did u have bub early?
At around 39wks, but my first was born around the same time and that was without GD.

Was bub big?
Nope, not massive. 8lb9oz.

Did u have a virginal or C-section?
I had him vaginally. There was no talk whatsoever about a c-section. I'm not sure if that's cause I had an amazing OB or what.

Did they have to monitor u while in labour? if so what did that involve?
No, nothing more then just the usual - baby's heartrate, etc etc.

Was everything ok with Bub when born? Was everything okay with you during labour and after?
I had a traumatic birth and there were other complications that weren't GD related.
He got his BSL's tested a few times in the first day and they were all fine. I got mine tested once a few hours after his birth and they didn't test them again. I could have tested them with my own machine thingie if I wanted.

GD is hardwork. I found the GD chatter thread here was great cause everyone else understands the ups and downs and know just know you're feelings. Where as for me in real life no one could understand what it was like to watch everything you eat and why I got so upset when something I ate one day was fine but the next day when I had the same thing it wasn't fine.

Give yourself time for all this to sink in properly. I found once I was more informed and saw the diabetes educator I felt a tiny bit better about it all.
We're all here for you. :hug:

xox

sorry to hear you have GD :hug: i want to say don't worry, freak out or feel like you're body is failing you - but that's exactly how i felt when i first found out i had it & a pretty normal reaction. BUT, believe me, it is manageable & you are going to cope with this just fine.

How did ur pregnancy go with GD?
pretty good really. it did mean extra hospital visits & i needed to see an ob & an endo (diabetes specialist) - so it was time consuming from that aspect. from a health POV, i pretty much felt great my whole PG & while i did have to go on insulin, it really didn't affect how i felt or what i could (so from that aspect i feel it's not such an evil thing to have while PG, itms?). i managed it through diet till i got to around 30 weeks & then had to go on insulin. i went through being angry again that no matter what i ate, my BSL went up & then realised that it was completely outside of my control. i did get a bit tired of thinking so much before i ate anything but really, it's a very healthy way of eating & probably what i should be doing anyhow :lol:
Did u have bub early?
i was induced right on 40 weeks. they offered to induce me at 38 weeks but i declined. i did have to have extra monitoring (twice a week in the last week or two, before that once a week from about 34 or 35 weeks) but it was just CTG monitoring. i would have liked to push it further, but i gave in. if i end up with GD again, i'll be stronger in asking to wait.
Was bub big?
just under 9lbs. so not considered huge.
Did u have a virginal or C-section?
vaginal - but it was an assisted (forceps) delivery
Did they have to monitor u while in labour? if so what did that involve?
i had the tape (not the gels, but the other one whose name escapes me) put in the night before & some monitoring during the evening. the next morning they did an ARM & pretty much put me straight on a drip. i then had ongoing monitoring for the entire labour. i asked for a wireless version so i had one less thing to drag around. i initially had the monitor externally but at some point they put it internally where the clips go on the baby's head. the monitoring was a good thing because it caught DS' heartrate dropping & they could do the assisted delivery.
Was everything ok with Bub when born?
absolutely fine. his BSL were a little low when he was born & they did give him a top up of formula but a m/w on the ward quickly stopped that happening again & helped me with BFing. DS didn't have to go to the SCN but this depends on your hospital. i was under the insulin limit for my hospital so he didn't have to go - but did have his BSL monitored a few times - they like them to have 3 cons readings over a certain amount before they're totally happy.
Was everything okay with you during labour and after?
look, i wasn't happy to be induced. it was exactly what i didn't want. i did find my labour & birth to be far too 'medical' for my liking. i could see the cascade of intervention taking place & i felt powerless to intervene. however, i did make sure i was well informed so i knew what was likely to come next & steered away from pain relief (other than gas) till we got right to the end (they gave me an epi cos they were prepping me for a poss c-section). but really, i think i came out of it just fine. i still had my vaginal birth, i had a healthy DS & i asked to be discharged 36 hours after DS was born. i felt like i healed really well & the best bit is, once the baby is born it's sayonara GD!

Jewel and sloane - thankyou! its a big relief so far to hear you both had vaginal births! Jewel i hope my OB will be just as good! im still waiting on a phone call from her but she is off delivering bubs! im also thrilled to hear all was well with both babies! that is really worrying me!

I feel totally fine health wise - should i have any signs or symptoms at all? should i not be feeling well? so far this pregnancy i have put on 7kgs! i put on 5kgs with DD but they weight gain for me im not worried about! Just more worried about things not going to plan naturally and bub not being well and comming early! he/she really can't come early!

Im glad im not the only one that has freaked out when hearing the news! all i have done is cry cry and cry - i really don't think i can cry anymore but i know as soon as DH walks in the door he is going to cop it! i also feel like im letting him down!

and the worry of getting type 2 diabetes down the track is another story!

off to check out the GD thread! thankyou all so very much!

Hun i have type 1 diabetes and so far bub is measuring to dates, i've made the ob promise not to mention a csection because of size and have told him i dont care how big the baby is im not having a csection for that reason!
Youll be fine, hopefully it'll be easily managed with diet and exersize, and if its not, dnt stress, flexipen injections are painless and you'll only be using a small amount of insulin (compaired to a type 1 diabetic say)Insulin is a growth hormone and thats what makes babies bigger ITMS, so if u can avoid insulin, u have no need to worry about having a bigger baby because it doesnt come into the equation
And if u look after yourself post baby u shouldnt get type 2!

Hi HJ, sorry you have been told you have GD, I was told last week. Had my Diabetes education class a couple of days ago and started monitoring my BSL's yesterday. I was pretty stressed about it all last week, but have started getting my head around it all. I actually thought that checking your BSL was going to hurt, but it doesnt. You just need to alternate fingers.
I have to admit this pregnancy has even given me thyroid probs, so I am also on meds for that. Out of all of my pgcy's this is the only one that I have had thyroid probs and the same with GD. So really feel like my body is letting me down too, even more so since needing to be on aspirin as well.
I must admit I think it has actually motivated me into watching more closely what I am eating and not giving into those cravings as much, yet it is day 2 for me.
You have my number hun, if you want someone to chat too who is going through the same just call. Also I have subscribed to the GD thread, hope to see you in there so we both have that extra support. Hang in there hun. Hugs

:hug: Hj, I had GDM with my most recent pregnancy. I ended up being on insulin but only a small amount. If you can control it with diet alone the chances of bub being macrosomic or having any other probs is extremely low.
I had a section, but it was due to a few factors, including the fact i was on insulin and also the fact that my first birth was a section so they were reluctant to induce me. Bub was on the bigger side but not huge 3740gms.
There is a gestational diabetes support thread here:https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...atter-6-a.html

best of luck babe, you and your bub will be okay :hug:

I had GD with DS1, not with DS2. I guess it all depends on whether your GD can be diet controlled (as was mine), but please don't freak out too much as it's not uncommon and it doesn't necessarily mean insulin, a big baby or a C-section. I found the diagnosis a little confronting at first but I guess ultimately I took it in my stride and did what I was supposed to do in terms of keeping the GD under control.

I also had weekly acupuncture sessions and took chinese herbs after my diagnosis. I'm SURE that helped me keep my bloods under control too.

I found the hardest part of GD was knowing what I could eat, and what I couldn't. Having to p*rick my finger several times a day was no real problem.

How did ur pregnancy go with GD? Had no dramas at all, as "easy" as any pregnancy could possibly be. Was "sicker" my second pregnancy when I caught all of DS1's colds and coughs LOL

Did u have bub early? 3 days early, spontaneous labour (waters broke).

Was bub big? Nup - 2.9kg and very healthy. Non-GD bub (DS2) was 3.6kg.

Did u have a virginal or C-section? Vaginal (no intervention needed), and a very straight-forward birth

Did they have to monitor u while in labour? if so what did that involve? Yes, was hooked up to the CTG because bub's heart rate dropped lower than normal during the last hour or so of labour. Had the CTG with both boys, but with DS1 I was on my back in the final hour and a half (give or take) so I could be monitored (which didn't worry me). The monitor wouldn't work properly unless I was on my back, and even then it was a fraz dodgy! With DS2 the monitor was on, but I could stand and move around - only on my back for the last 45 mins so they could break my waters - bub arrived very soon thereafter (I delivered both on my back, but it worked just fine for me).

Was everything ok with Bub when born? Yes, apgars of 8 and 9, from memory.

Was everything okay with you during labour and after? Yes, I was a confident going into the birth in terms of having a natural labour (um, I have to admit I truly did "trust my body" ... don't scream please, it really is an empowering state of mind if you are able to do this :D. I did hypnobirthing too, which helped enormously). Anyway yes, everything was ok with labour and my recovery was pretty quick. Up and about shortly after the births.

You'll be fine with your GD and if you want a vaginal birth, don't listen to your Ob or any other caregiver if they start waffling on about inducing you early, C-sections etc because of a large baby. I reckon most GD babies are "normal" size because the mum just has to watch what she eats so closely - you probably have a healthier diet with the GD than without. Mine was!!

All the best.

i still haven't heard back from my OB - could it be not as bad as i thought? could i be maybe boarderline? if it was important wouldnt she of gotten back to me by now?

it was the long test, wasn't it?

it may have been borderline. does your ob normally take a while to respond to your calls? i guess it was a friday & she may have had someone go into labour? but it's no big deal if it is GD - if you're worried, just eat as healthily as possible & go easy on the sugar - there's good info on the diabetes websites (national & state). a couple of days will be ok :hug:

yeh it was the long 2hr test! and i know she did have to deliver a few bubs! just thought that if it was of any concern that she might of gotten back to me on it! guess its not a case of life and death tho - and i am seeing her on Wednesday for my appt! Thanks Sloane! im just very anxious!

Andie - thankyou heaps for your re-assuring words! glad that GD didn't cause any problems for you!



Be back with more replies soon!

MamaSpice - thanks heaps! off to check out that thread! oh to have a carefree pregnancy!!!

csab - how are u blood tests going? have ur levels been high?

Skybie - wow thanks for replying - some very reassuring words there - definalty with the advice that its the insulin that makes bub big! hopefully i can stay off that! i have an appt with OB on wednesday hope i can be as strong as you and tell her not to mention inducement or c-section! cause i really don't want either!

i obviously havent had GD, lol but i know that because insulin is a growth hormone it causes the placenta to have a shorter lifecycle, hence the early inducement. i know that most hospitals give u the option of very regular monitoring (ie every second day) if u decline the early induction so they can keep an eye on how the placenta is functioning and move quickly should they need to.
im not sure if its the same if u dnt end up on insulin though, wish i could be more of a help

How did everything go? Did you hear back from your OB?
My BSL's have been mostly within normal range, some nearing the top end of normal range, and my very first one was low. Yesterday's seemed to be the highest I have had in days though with one high. Ive been pretty stressed, so trying not to stress as much. lol.