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April 2021 Moms
bbrahmbhatt
member
February Appointments Thread
bbrahmbhatt
member
When do you / did you have your appointment?
How was your appointment?
What'd they do?
Feel free to ask any questions - either leading up to your appointment about what to expect or after your appointment.
Re: February Appointments Thread
Cord flow, fluid, head circumference and weight are fine, but her tummy is a little small. Since it's just her physical size that's low, the IUGR is a precaution, not a diagnosis. I'm not in any danger of needing to be induced this early. Basically, the leaning is that she's just genetically small like her brother, who is 5% for weight and 25% for height.
So, they prepped me for it with DS2. As long as the important stuff is all good, I'm not worried. Small babies are rarely actually IUGR. Most are just small.
I also had a growth scan this week - baby checked out perfect but has a huge head (90th percentile) and is currently frank breech. Lots of time to turn still but it looks like I need to ramp up all the pelvic opening yoga, Chiro, and inversions. Last baby got stuck in an awful position in my pelvis so hoping this is not a pattern.
He is so beautiful though! I was tearing up. Never got emotional during my first son's scans, but I guess it feels more tangible when you've already grown and met this other little person. I think they have the same nose.
When do you / did you have your appointment? yesterday
How was your appointment? fine
What'd they do? regular stuff + glucose challenge test
I passed the one hour test! I am amazed because I only passed the one hour at 12 weeks with a 134 (cutoff is 135). This time I got an 82? Bodies are so weird. I have been taking this supplement that may helped and I was really hydrated and ate well yesterday morning, but still that's a huge difference. It's such a relief to not have to deal with monitoring my blood sugar this time around.
I also discussed the possibility of a voluntary induction around 39 week or my due date. We have to figure out child care for my son and we don't have family nearby to help. It would just be easier to coordinate with covid tests and driving longish distances if we had a date in mind. My ob said they are totally open to that and we can discuss it at more length at my 36 week appointment.
I mentioned this in another thread, so sorry if it is redundant!
When do you / did you have your appointment? Monday 2/1
How was your appointment? It was ok; I got to see baby, including her little hand, which was ADORABLE. The thing that has me worried is that her weight fell from the 46th to 28th percentile. She is still measuring on the growth curve, and she is still appropriate for gestational age, measuring right at 28 weeks; except her head which is in the 63rd percentile and measuring a week ahead (I blame DH for that lol). The MFM isn't concerned, so trying to stay zen about it.
What'd they do? Growth scan
Feel free to ask any questions - either leading up to your appointment about what to expect or after your appointment. Nothing at the moment, I guess we will have to wait for the next scan in 4 weeks to see if this is a one-time thing or continues to decline.
So, if your experience is similar to mine I'm thinking you have a good shot at passing. My first 3 hour wiped me out for the entire day.
First of all, I am really over revolving my entire life around GD - if you're not familiar, basically I have to eat breakfast, then 2 hour break, then snack, then 2 hour break, then lunch, then 2 hour break, then dinner, then two hour break, then snack. So there is ZERO flexibility in my schedule throughout the day and I have to plan EVERYTHING around those meal and snack times and around testing my blood sugar at the 4 assigned times.
But in addition to that being super annoying, I am following everything EXACTLY as I'm supposed to and it's still not making a difference. I'm still getting very high readings, so finally today they agreed that I need to start medicine to help. She assured me that its just the hormones being released by my placenta and there's literally nothing I can do differently, it's beyond my control. But it's still just so frustrating.
So today was all about learning how to give myself insulin, which I'm sorry if I sound dramatic, but sounds like a freaking nightmare. First of all, I am not cool giving myself injections with a needle. It's not the kind of pen where you can't see the needle and you just press a button and it pops out. It is a needle that you physically press into your skin. I do not feel emotionally capable of doing this - it totally freaks me out. I'm fine going to get blood work done where someone else is giving me the needle, but doing it to myself? I just can't. Additionally, she said that the best and most recommended place to give this needle to myself is in my belly. I'm sorry, what? I just cannot fathom sticking a needle into my stomach while growing a human there. Plus, I'm supposed to learn how to use all of this equipment and how to do all of this by reading a freaking worksheet and watching a video online because they aren't doing these meetings in person because of covid and also they are not allowed to do anything with my personal needles/supplies. So I, a person with zero medical training, am supposed to teach myself how to use all of these items (there are about 15 steps every time to putting all of this stuff together and giving yourself the insulin) and then feel comfortable sticking my pregnant belly with a needle. I'm sorry, but I just can't get on board with all of this.
So I'm waiting for a call back from my OB to talk to her about Metformin, a pill sometimes given to pregnant women to control GD. Anyone have any experience with Metformin at all? The GD specialist said that they definitely prescribe it, but that they prefer using insulin because it doesn't pass to baby (Metformin does) and because insulin works faster than Metformin.
ALSO, they just informed me today that in addition to the biweekly (soon to be weekly OB appointments), the acupuncture and physical therapy appointments I have to control my back pain/sciatica, and all of the other ultrasounds, etc., I now also have to go to appointments TWICE A WEEK for non-stress tests and fluid checks because of the GD. Being pregnant is now a full time job. Actually, I think I spend more time collectively every week doing things for GD than I do on my actual job.
I'm sorry this was a very long rant, but that was my lovely appointment for today!! Thank you for letting me vent!
training either.
ETA my friend who is also due in April and was recently diagnosed with GD has two different blood glucose monitors and she often gets readings 30 points apart on them with the same blood. It’s super frustrating trying to figure out what’s going on and what to do when you don’t have an accurate sense of your sugar levels. It may not be a problem with your device but it seems like a pretty common issue based on my experience and what I’ve heard.
When do you / did you have your appointment? It was yesterday
How was your appointment? Good, was with my fav midwife who delivered 2 out of my 3... always so nice to see her!
What'd they do? We talked more about the covid vaccine and think I will go for it if I can get an appt. Also, my MFM appt last week showed baby was measuring 95th percentile. At my appt yesterday my fundal height was also two weeks ahead. All my other kids have been exactly the same around 50-60 percentile. I'm delivering at 37 weeks anyway but am kinda freaking out why everything is so big this time!! I've also gained as much weight now as I did total my last pregnancy. They mentioned possible GD. My test is next week and I'm a little worried about that but I guess we will see! Anyone else measuring large??
OH I forgot one other part of today's appointment. The NP asked me if I get up in the middle of the night to pee and I was like yes, of course! And she was like well it may be helpful if you could take your blood sugar a 5th time each day between 2 and 4 am. I nearly fell off my chair. She was being 100% serious. If I thought I was having trouble falling asleep now, I can online imagine if I have to wake up between 2 and 4 am to take my blood sugar and then try to go back to sleep!
My OB gave me a call and we chatted about Metformin vs. insulin and it seems like the insulin is much easier for them to control, works quicker to get my blood sugar under control, etc., but she doesn't have a problem with me taking Metformin instead if that works. So I had to go to the lab to get a full blood panel before I was allowed to start the Metformin but they wanted me to start it tonight, so I had to go immediately over to the lab and get blood work. It all came back normal so I was able to start the Metformin tonight. Fingers crossed this works to get my blood sugar under control so I don't have to do the insulin!!! They said that the other problem with Metformin is that it causes diarrhea and GI issues for some women and if that happens to be the case for me, they will have to take me off of it. Soooo really hoping I don't experience those side effects. I would soooo appreciated everyone's positive thoughts, prayers, whatever form of positivity you subscribe to that this pill works for me!
Are you eating a midnight snack? Pregnant women have blood sugar spikes when they fast. For me the solution was a Premier protein shake at around 1145pm. I got up for work at 5, so I know exactly how much it sucks. But, if I did that, I'd wake with fasting levels of 75 to 85, and it was under control all day. Until I started doing this, I always woke with a fasting level of over 100, and struggled all day to keep it low.
Also, make sure you cleanse your hand before the finger prick. Try washing under hot water for 30 seconds. The heat will bring more blood to the site, and the soap, errr, does what soap does. It makes a difference.
And I'll second what other say about the meter. I took my blood sugar a few minutes ahead of my 2 hour draw postpartum and got 75. The lab reported 45, a full 30 points lower.
When do you / did you have your appointment? Yesterday, for 28 weeks
How was your appointment? Fine
What'd they do? I got my TDAP vaccine and then I also got a mild scolding about not having done my glucose test yet but....... in my defense, they gave me a 3-week range to do it in and I'm still well within that range! It's not my fault that school has been remote, and then cancelled, and then DH has had to work on his car. It just irritated me because you shouldn't give us a 3-week range for a pain-in-the-butt test if you really want us to take it earlier. Also, I asked the OB about belly growth since I am freakishly large, and he said that even though you pop sooner with subsequent pregnancies, the final size of your belly shouldn't get any bigger than it did the first time and that made me feel better (so don't any of you come in and pop my bubble, ha!).
Yes, @aisukurimsarang ! I feel the same way. They keep telling me I should be eating 2400 calories per day which is insane to me. I'm following the diet plan exactly but I'm still having about 1600-1800 calories per day. I don't see how I could possibly have 2400. I'm already forcing myself to eat things all the time that I don't want. And yes, I do eat a late night snack and its funny that you mentioned the Premier protein drinks, that's literally what I had last night as my late night snack. My doctor told me though I have to pair it with a carb, so I had it with fruit. Still, this morning, my resting blood sugar was high (99). I have to keep reminding myself that this truly isn't controllable with my own actions (other than taking medicine), like diet alone is not enough for me personally. I'm not totally surprised because my dad and my grandmother both had diabetes, I watched my dad give himself insulin my whole life, but UGH doesn't make it suck any less. Oh and yes, I do wash my hands before testing with a non-scented soap without glucose.
I asked at the pharmacy last night, and if I wanted to try a different meter, my insurance wouldn't cover it since they already covered one, and I don't know that they'd cover the rest of the testing supplies for the different meter either. The supplies are already pretty expensive! My DH also pointed out that our grocery bills have skyrocketed since I became GD haha. Hey, if I have to add tons of protein to my diet, we're buying seabass every week, sorry not sorry lol.
I bought my supplies on Amazon, including a new meter when mine died. It was WAY WAY WAY cheaper than using my insurance and pharmacy. I used an Accu Check Guide, blue box not red
@forevertired I really hope I don't have to do insulin, but thank you for sharing your experience, that does make me feel a little bit better if we have to go down that road!
Unrelated note - I had physical therapy today for my sciatica and since I'm pregnant, it also involved pelvic floor stuff. It was actually very helpful and I look forward to going once a week! It almost makes me feel like I've returned to pre-covid (and pre-pregnancy) life where I went to weekly private pilates sessions.
When do you / did you have your appointment? Today for my 28 week check up & a growth scan
How was your appointment? Much longer than expected. Count me in with @aisukurimsarangin the IUGR precaution club. I'm not totally surprised given DD was tiny as well, but I am surprised that they are catching it this early. He was in the 54th percentile at my 20 week scan and has dropped to the 11th percentile overall as of today. His head is big, but his abdomen is 5th percentile. Because of the abdomen % being under 10th they are sending me to the hospital to have a more in depth level II ultrasound as a precaution. And moving forward I need to go in weekly for NSTs and growth scans for extra monitoring. The OB assured me that she's really not too concerned, but given the MFM guidelines that they follow I'm now in the high risk category requiring additional monitoring and I'll likely be induced by 39 weeks again (or sooner based on how the weekly tests go).
What'd they do? Ultrasound for growth scan was first where I got some new pics
. Followed by 28 week check up and ultrasound report readout with the OB (new OB at the practice, I really liked her!) I got the TDAPP vaccine and I also had them check me for BV which they confirmed I likely have 
so I'm starting on an antibiotic today. Then they set me up for my first NST of this pregnancy and I had to schedule my weekly visits leading up to 39 weeks for more NSTs and scans, YAY. Also kinda funny story, the nurse asked if a student could come in with the Dr which i agreed to and then she was like "ok i'll let him know". LOL poor kid (literally, he looked like a child) got a close up of my cervix and whatever BV looks like 
Feel free to ask any questions - either leading up to your appointment about what to expect or after your appointment. No questions, besides my general question to the universe of why I make such small babies. I'm a petite person and DH isn't HUGE but I would say we are normal sized people and I don't have any underlying conditions. My OB initially thought DD was probably small due to a poorly placed placenta and odds were that this pregnancy would be normal, so I was optimistic especially after my 20 week scan, but here we are.
@theblondebump sending you a virtual hug for all the stress and anxiety GD has caused! I have no personal experience but it sounds like hopefully the meds will work and take some pressure off you needing to be so strict with your diet and lifestyle. We all have our 'thing' with pregnancy, no one gets spared completely!
@emeraldisle17 I’m glad they are taking extra precautions to monitor. Sounds like an intense but good plan.
Is anyone else diagnosed yet? In my previous BMBs we've had a GD thread but I think with the pandemic craziness TB is much slower than usual across all of the BMBs right now (I have mom friends in other ones who have said that and it's definitely the case here) which is a bummer but I'm definitely guilty of being way less active than my previous pregnancies b/c it's hard to get on here. Anyways - a GD thread might be helpful if there are any others but I'm completely fine with discussing in any of the other threads, too.
@emeraldisle17, Same. Her head is in the 69th percentile, her weight is in the 20th, but her abdomen is in the 3rd. So, when it averages out, she's 10.4%.
I'm currently forcing myself to eat every few hours and I've noticed a huge difference in my energy. Also, I've been under huge stress with SO, MIL, my ex, and work... I know Cortisol can cause low birth weight, and I'm a non-stress eater, so that adds to it. I'm trying to work on relaxing and eating 6 small meals a day, rather than 1 or 2 medium ones.
@aisukurimsarang good luck with your 3 hour!!
@aisukurimsarang good luck with your 3 hour!
@theblondebump I hope the metformin is going well!
So far no negative side effects and my doctor called and said my A1C results from two days ago were right in the middle of the "good and normal" range - so yay! I'm seeing my blood sugar levels decrease slightly yesterday and today, but they told me it will probably take 7 days or so for the metformin to really work all the way, so I guess I have to just wait and see.
Thanks again everyone for all of the support. It was a stressful week and it's been helpful just to vent and receive encouragement from everyone here.
Interesting point about the cortisol leading to low birth weight. I would say i'm a tightly wound personality and have a full time 40+ hour per week job plus a toddler at home, but beyond that I can't think of any added stressors. I also make sure to eat 3 meals a day plus snacks and lots of water, so I truly don't think its a diet thing. I asked my OB again if there was ANYTHING i could be doing to prevent this or increase weight gain and she was basically like - no, just live your life and try not to stress.
I am a questions and answers type person and have been to the end of the internet and back again since DD was born and find it so frustrating that there are no real reasons or indicators for why this 'just happens' to some women
I have a high deductible plan. I'll have to pay out of pocket until I hit 3K. I have to pay the 3K regardless of through whom, so we were prepped for it. After that, tho, it's 90%.
With my last insurance, I just had to pay a copay of 75 and then nothing for the rest of the pregnancy.
When do you / did you have your appointment? Had a virtual 32 week appointment
How was your appointment? Eh fine.. I wish it was in person because I feel like the online ones are such a waste but always nice to see my doctor
What'd they do? Answered my questions about what to do if I go into labor early and such- made another appointment for 34.5 weeks and she will check baby's position and if I'm dilated at all (went into labor at 37 weeks with my son)
Or I guess “normal,” because...pregnancy. 😂