GD check in?

lionyloo32

@Anna930 From what I understand simply having GD does not mean that you'll need to be induced early or have a c-section. It will all depend on how you and baby are doing over the course of the next few weeks. I did read though that they will monitor you both VERY closely after your EDD because there are some higher risks at that point. Also sounds like most who end up going on meds are induced early. I'm still learning a lot though. 

lionyloo32

What a bummer @bluebird00!! That was me yesterday! Didn't eat anything I haven't been eating. All I want is a big fat piece of cake with ridiculous amounts of frosting. Siiiiggghhh. 

erien

@bluebird00  I know, right?  I don't know how I survived GD with my last pregnancy without a group like y'all to vent with.  My doctor laughed at my log yesterday when I had one high number a couple weeks ago with eggs and toast so I added cheese to subsequent egg breakfasts.  Whatever works....And now my go-to peanut butter and toast numbers are creeping up.  Not adding cheese to that!  

bowlwoman

@Anna930 My OB let me go to 40w2d with DD1, mainly because I was really trying to avoid an induction. He said that was the longest he'd let me go because of the placenta starting to break down issue. We induced at 38w5d with DD2 (mainly because 39 weeks was the week of July 4th and I didn't want to be in the hospital over the holiday), and with this one and the revised guidelines, we'll induce at 39 weeks if I haven't had Baby Q before then. 

I would discuss with your doctor, if nothing else just to make sure you feel comfortable with your options and decisions. Do you know if your passing numbers were close to the cutoff? If so, that may weigh more heavily one way or the other.

@bluebird00 I hate those days. You eat the same damn thing for 3 weeks, then bam, one day you get a wonky number with no warning. My doctor said they factor those in, that those days happen. Could be an activity issue, could be a hormone surge, could be that you're tired or stressed or something else biochemically that's inflating your sugars on top of the food. They are generally worried if you have systemic high numbers or they start seeing a pattern of food creeping up. I had this happen one day where I had a number in the 160s for breakfast! It was a massive growth spurt day, I found out the next week as Baby Q had grown quite a bit since my previous checkup.

lionyloo32 said:

@Anna930 From what I understand simply having GD does not mean that you'll need to be induced early or have a c-section. It will all depend on how you and baby are doing over the course of the next few weeks. I did read though that they will monitor you both VERY closely after your EDD because there are some higher risks at that point. Also sounds like most who end up going on meds are induced early. I'm still learning a lot though. 

I think this depends on your doctor. As I told Anna930, my OB wouldn't let me go much past my EDD with DD1. And when he explained why, about the placenta breaking down, I agreed with him.

My MFM office has a different protocol for GD patients on meds vs those not on meds. If you're not on meds, then you have monthly growth scans and diabetes number checks every two weeks. If you're on meds, then starting at 32 weeks you get weekly NSTs and BPPs in addition to weekly number checks at the office. So yes, if you're on meds, you get monitored more because they need to make sure that the meds aren't negatively impacting the baby's growth by making the baby grow too slowly. It's then a catch 22, because you have to worry about the baby growing too big by watching your diet, then you have to worry about the baby growing too slowly because of the meds.

paigep8

My doctor mentioned that we would probably induce at 39 weeks because of my low papp-a score and the GD.  I realize this may sound ignorant, but why are so many against inducing?  I totally want my baby boy to grow and thrive as much as possible in utero, but if you are 39 weeks + and there are some medical reasons for needing to induce, why are some women so against it? 

lionyloo32

@paigep8 I am against inducing simply because I have to travel at 36/37 wks to give birth in another state ....... So I was really just hoping for zero complications and going full-term. I've also heard that being induced can mean a longer labor with more painful and stronger contractions earlier in the process compared to going into labor when your body is actually ready. 

bowlwoman

@paigep8 I originally didn't want to be induced because of the pain. I was trying to avoid an epidural the first time around, and induction contractions can be bad. I was induced, did get the bad contractions, did wind up getting the epidural, and it was great.

Inductions can lead to other interventions, so many women want to avoid them and try to go as natural as possible. Now that I have two vaginal GD deliveries under my belt I'm not so worried, but a lot of it is the unknown for FTMs, in my opinion. That's how it was for me.

brennabe97

Cheekers2010 said:

I started twice weekly NSTs this week like some of the rest of you.  I was there for over 2 hours.  Not because baby girl didn't cooperate.  She totally did.  But because I waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes and then in a exam room for another 30 minutes while somebody else had to do an extra long NST.  And, then, my doctor came and checked me after about 18 minutes and said the strip was great and we could be done in 2 minutes.  Took about an extra 20 for the nurse to come and get me off the monitors.  So, my "20 minute" NST lasted more like 45.  Ridiculous.  I can't do this twice a week.  I have other things going on in my life.  I'm so irritated.

This is exactly my life.  The worst part of GD for me (other than missing out on carb-o-licious pumpkin everything) is the darn appointments.  They go on forever.  I can't plan anything after them and they are really messing with my work schedule. I'm totally feeling you @Cheekers2010 !

brennabe97

bluebird00 said:

Damn, damn, damn! Same breakfast as every morning since I was dx'd almost 6 weeks ago, and I just tested at 139. This whole thing is really screwing with my head when it comes to my relationship with food. Grr.

In talking to my diabetic educator about this same thing she said that glucose meters can be off by as much as 20% from test to test.  So unless this meal starts testing consistently high, it might just be the particular strip.  I usually wash my hands and test again when I get a reading much higher than I expected.  Yesterday on tests 2 minutes apart I had readings 50 points different.  This glucose meter thing is apparently the best we've got but still not very precise.  Which kills me, because as a scientist I like reliable data and I never feel like my readings are truly reliable.

bowlwoman

brennabe97 said:

bluebird00 said:

Damn, damn, damn! Same breakfast as every morning since I was dx'd almost 6 weeks ago, and I just tested at 139. This whole thing is really screwing with my head when it comes to my relationship with food. Grr.

In talking to my diabetic educator about this same thing she said that glucose meters can be off by as much as 20% from test to test.  So unless this meal starts testing consistently high, it might just be the particular strip.  I usually wash my hands and test again when I get a reading much higher than I expected.  Yesterday on tests 2 minutes apart I had readings 50 points different.  This glucose meter thing is apparently the best we've got but still not very precise.  Which kills me, because as a scientist I like reliable data and I never feel like my readings are truly reliable.

Yup. I tested last night after dinner and got 133, tested again on a different finger and got 117. I went with the 117.

brennabe97 said:

Cheekers2010 said:

I started twice weekly NSTs this week like some of the rest of you.  I was there for over 2 hours.  Not because baby girl didn't cooperate.  She totally did.  But because I waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes and then in a exam room for another 30 minutes while somebody else had to do an extra long NST.  And, then, my doctor came and checked me after about 18 minutes and said the strip was great and we could be done in 2 minutes.  Took about an extra 20 for the nurse to come and get me off the monitors.  So, my "20 minute" NST lasted more like 45.  Ridiculous.  I can't do this twice a week.  I have other things going on in my life.  I'm so irritated.

This is exactly my life.  The worst part of GD for me (other than missing out on carb-o-licious pumpkin everything) is the darn appointments.  They go on forever.  I can't plan anything after them and they are really messing with my work schedule. I'm totally feeling you @Cheekers2010 !

This. So much this. Luckily my manager is super cool with it, and I bring my phone/laptop along so I can do some "work" while on the machine. This office was like this with the girls, though, so I've just come to expect it. I generally block off the whole morning for these appointments.

pchung

@lionyloo32 I started my NST this week at 32 weeks.  I am suppose to go twice a week from now on.  It wasn't too bad.  However, my dr's office only has 1 machine and the girl in front of me ran late for her appointment ... which pushed me back.  So annoying. 

pchung

@lionyloo32 I started my NST this week at 32 weeks.  I am suppose to go twice a week from now on.  It wasn't too bad.  However, my dr's office only has 1 machine and the girl in front of me ran late for her appointment ... which pushed me back.  So annoying. 

lionyloo32

Oh wow @pchung Do you go to your ob for those? I'm seeing an ob for my regular check-ups and then the perinatologist to monitor baby. They did the initial ultrasound and education and scheduled me for follow-up 4 weeks out. I wonder if that will change if they put me on meds tomorrow and whether I'll have to go to my ob for the NST's or the perinatologist. If the latter, that would really suck because they are 40min away from work and home and traffic there and back is awful! @brennabe97 I have retested twice after getting a higher than normal number, only to have it be even higher the second time. So I was like nevermind ....... ignoring that one. My meter did come with this little bottle of blue liquid labeled"control solution" but not really sure what it's used for. 

pchung

@lionyloo32 I go to my dr's office for my NST.  My actual NST only took about 25-30 minutes and that was with Baby not moving and me having to drink cold water and the nurse using a buzzer.  So my first experience wasn't too bad. 

However, I am schedule for all my NST on Mondays and Thursdays.  With Thanksgiving on a Thursday my dr's office says I still have to do my NST but I have to go to the hospital to get it done.  The nurse winked at me and said "unless you are going out of town for the holidays". 

bowlwoman

@lionyloo32 The control solution is to make sure your strips and meter are calibrated correctly. I'm not sure what brand of meter you have, but I use the OneTouch UltraMini. On the container of test strips, I have a range that the control number should be. I put in a strip, put the meter into control test mode, then put a drop of control solution on the strip instead of blood. As long as the reading is within the control range on the test strips, then you're good. If it's wonky, then test again to see if you have a problem with your meter.

lionyloo32

Thanks ladies. I have the OneTouch too. Looks like I'll have to go rummage through my stuff to find the test strips. Don't recall seeing them. Ewe for having an appointment ON Thanksgiving! 

Cryssteen

Ok. So I'm seeing the endo for the first time tomorrow. But I'm wondering if any of you know why or have experienced this: my fasting # is high or high-normal (from 85-116 in the last week). But when I test an hour or so after a meal, often its lower than the fasting #. Like his morning was 111. An hour after breakfast, it was 96. This seems wrong. What do you do to keep your overnight number in check (wo meds)?

amedbery

Cryssteen said:

Ok. So I'm seeing the endo for the first time tomorrow. But I'm wondering if any of you know why or have experienced this: my fasting # is high or high-normal (from 85-116 in the last week). But when I test an hour or so after a meal, often its lower than the fasting #. Like his morning was 111. An hour after breakfast, it was 96. This seems wrong. What do you do to keep your overnight number in check (wo meds)?

I think that is the most frustrating for everyone because it is the one number that you can't really control, no matter how religiously you stick to your diet. I think hormone surges may be to blame. But maybe talk to your doctor if you are eating an evening snack about whether to change that? I'm not sure if everyone is on the super-regimented three meal, three snack diet that I am. But if I can't make myself eat the carb part of the last snack, my AM fasting number is really low. That is really the only thing I could think of to control it at all.

ETA clarity

Cheekers2010

Cryssteen said:

Ok. So I'm seeing the endo for the first time tomorrow. But I'm wondering if any of you know why or have experienced this: my fasting # is high or high-normal (from 85-116 in the last week). But when I test an hour or so after a meal, often its lower than the fasting #. Like his morning was 111. An hour after breakfast, it was 96. This seems wrong. What do you do to keep your overnight number in check (wo meds)?

See my early response about the dawn phenomenon.

pchung

@Cryssteen my endo told me that it is hormones.  My endo told me that sometimes exercise help but most of the time it is just hormones from pregnancy. 

I started night time insulin and my fasting numbers are finally under 90.  Going on night time insulin has been a huge relief off my shoulders.  I was really stressing about my fasting numbers.  So far no meal time insulin for me.  Hoping to keep it that way.

Cryssteen

pchung said:

@Cryssteen my endo told me that it is hormones.  My endo told me that sometimes exercise help but most of the time it is just hormones from pregnancy. 

I started night time insulin and my fasting numbers are finally under 90.  Going on night time insulin has been a huge relief off my shoulders.  I was really stressing about my fasting numbers.  So far no meal time insulin for me.  Hoping to keep it that way.

This is the recommendation for me. I'm so upset. I can't stop crying. Between the insulin and the talk of high risk screenings for the baby. I was way overweight when I got pregnant. And this makes me feel like I've selfishly put my child at risk.

pchung

@Cryssteen I really didn't want to go on insulin but my endo really put me at ease by answering all my questions.  My endo really welcomed questions and asked about fears.  He really put me at ease about the whole situation.  He explained in detail what GD is, what insulin does, what will happen when I go into labor, and after.  I think if you end up with a good endo you will be fine.  Your health and your baby's health is most important right now. 

bowlwoman

Cryssteen said:

@Cryssteen my endo told me that it is hormones.  My endo told me that sometimes exercise help but most of the time it is just hormones from pregnancy. 

I started night time insulin and my fasting numbers are finally under 90.  Going on night time insulin has been a huge relief off my shoulders.  I was really stressing about my fasting numbers.  So far no meal time insulin for me.  Hoping to keep it that way.

This is the recommendation for me. I'm so upset. I can't stop crying. Between the insulin and the talk of high risk screenings for the baby. I was way overweight when I got pregnant. And this makes me feel like I've selfishly put my child at risk.

It's going to be ok. Creepy Internet hugs. This is how your body reacts to pregnancy. Full stop. You take the meds, do the finger prics, follow the diet, and you will have a healthy and happy baby at the end of it.

This is my third GD pregnancy, so I must be masochistic because I keep doing this to myself.  

Seriously, you are going to be ok. Your baby is going to be ok. It's just a bumpier and suckier road than most have to deal with. But it's so worth it.

bowlwoman

Yesterday my numbers were all high. 

Today my numbers have been all lowish.

GD sucks balls.

That is all.

amedbery

Cryssteen said:

pchung said:

@Cryssteen my endo told me that it is hormones.  My endo told me that sometimes exercise help but most of the time it is just hormones from pregnancy. 

I started night time insulin and my fasting numbers are finally under 90.  Going on night time insulin has been a huge relief off my shoulders.  I was really stressing about my fasting numbers.  So far no meal time insulin for me.  Hoping to keep it that way.

This is the recommendation for me. I'm so upset. I can't stop crying. Between the insulin and the talk of high risk screenings for the baby. I was way overweight when I got pregnant. And this makes me feel like I've selfishly put my child at risk.

I should have waited until I lost weight to get pregnant, too, but I wouldn't beat yourself up about it, it's not like you knew this would happen. It can also be genetic or just the luck of the draw. What's important is that you are doing everything you can to manage it. Plenty of women with GD go on to have normal-sized babies. Hang in there!

Cryssteen

Thanks for the love girls. Sorry we're all united in this

paigep8

Have any of you lost weight or seen your blood pressure go down since starting the GD diet? I am down a couple pounds and my blood pressure was normal/little lower than usual, but it may have been that I was seeing a really great NP who put my mind at ease. I don't want to lose more weight, but do hope that it helps me bounce back post pregnancy.

paigep8

True-it is a lot food. I guess I was eating more chocolate (but it was the good dark kind :-)) and bagels then I realized.

paigep8

Hoping my blood pressure stays down!

nopegoat

paigep8 said:

Have any of you lost weight or seen your blood pressure go down since starting the GD diet? I am down a couple pounds and my blood pressure was normal/little lower than usual, but it may have been that I was seeing a really great NP who put my mind at ease. I don't want to lose more weight, but do hope that it helps me bounce back post pregnancy.

I lost 4lbs after starting the diet, but my endo was being extremely strict with carbs. After I went to my nutritionist and got things straightened out I haven't lost any more. I am gaining much much slower now though.

BdblZ

paigep8 said:

Have any of you lost weight or seen your blood pressure go down since starting the GD diet? I am down a couple pounds and my blood pressure was normal/little lower than usual, but it may have been that I was seeing a really great NP who put my mind at ease. I don't want to lose more weight, but do hope that it helps me bounce back post pregnancy.

Haven't lost any, but I really haven't been gaining either.  I'm only up a few pounds from my starting weight at 32 weeks, and weight has been pretty stable since my diagnosis.  Doctors aren't worried, as baby is growing on target, but I can't help but let it mess with my head.  I'm not necessarily hungry, but due to the diet I'm rarely able to give into any of my cravings.  Its really kind of a mind-fuck to think I might come out of this lighter than going in (Hoping this post doesn't make me sound like a total twat-face).  

bowlwoman

All three pregnancies: lost weight in the second trimester from my first weight check. Then, during the third trimester, slowly creeps up to just at or a few pounds over my starting pregnancy weight.

Right now I am just 2.5 pounds over my 12 week weight. With the girls I only gained a net of 3-5 pounds, and it looks like I'm on track to do the same with this one.

Sarah1253

Just started this week with testing my blood. All of my numbers have been far under 140. Fasting number about 80 every morning. So far so good Hopefully I can stay on this track. 

lionyloo32

I am SO happy to report that my fasting number was 85 today. Woohoo!! I ended up starting the glyburide last night, which I cried about at first. But now with finally seeing a low number I am feeling much better and definitely less stressed. After two weeks of beating myself up and adding exercise and eating only what I'm supposed to, that fasting number just wouldn't go down. The dr. and nutritionist told me that it is 100% to blame on the wonderful placenta and the hormones it's releasing. Hoping the glyburide does its job for the next few weeks and that my numbers stay low. 

KittyAngel929 is 140 your 1 or 2 hour post meal goal? Mine is supposed to be below 130 at 1 hour or 120 at 2 hours for all meals.

adoringangeldmb

Today, I my first NST and it went well. I lost 3 pounds, I guess that's okay? Doc looked at my numbers for monitoring and said they are pretty good expect for breakfast. So now I only have to monitor twice a day now so always after breakfast and then I get to pick the other reading I want to take. The GD diet is still killing me though without my pumpkin sweets and it seems oatmeal and cereal are my downfall for breakfast

lionyloo32

bluebird00 said:

I'm surprised by these doctors who decrease the monitoring so drastically after a short period of monitoring. Mine keep warning me that things can change as I get further along and the placenta ups its hormone-production game.

Maybe I'm just jealous!

My dr told me the same thing @bluebird00! I have to continue to monitor 4 times a day. 

erien

Even if the doc okayed it, I personally would not decrease testing to twice a day. I am a numbers gal and need to track trends. But I can't be too uppity because it is well documented on this board that I've been terrible about remembering to test 4 times a day:-)

calibeargirl

I am new to the gd thread! I chose to refuse the 3 hour and have to do my sugars 4x a day as well. I am 33 weeks so kinda late to the game! In the past week I've only had 1 high number after lunch and it was 132. I usually eat the most carbs at lunch, I splurged yesterday and had mashed potatoes and three cookies I haven't watched my eating as I normally eat pretty healthy. My question is, are all our ranges the same? I looked online and looks like the numbers can range. Everyone in my class was told between 60-90 fasting and under 130 1 hour after eating. Is everyone else about the same? I Have a lot of yummy paleo recipes if anyone is interested

erien

@calibeargirl‌ Welcome! Those are my goals but there does seem to be some variation among us. We haven't been great about sharing recipes on these check-in threads but they are defintely welcome!

lionyloo32

calibeargirl said:

I am new to the gd thread! I chose to refuse the 3 hour and have to do my sugars 4x a day as well. I am 33 weeks so kinda late to the game! In the past week I've only had 1 high number after lunch and it was 132. I usually eat the most carbs at lunch, I splurged yesterday and had mashed potatoes and three cookies I haven't watched my eating as I normally eat pretty healthy. My question is, are all our ranges the same? I looked online and looks like the numbers can range. Everyone in my class was told between 60-90 fasting and under 130 1 hour after eating. Is everyone else about the same? I Have a lot of yummy paleo recipes if anyone is interested

I do think there is probably variation based on each person's personal history as well as the preferences of the dr and nutritionist. My ob for instance doesn't do the 1hr and then 3hr test. They do a 2hr test and there is no challenging it. Then for numbers it's below 95 for fasting and below 130 @ 1hr post meal or 120 @ 2hr post meal. 

Congrats on only having 1 high number so far! Sounds like yours is definitely controllable with diet alone at this point!