High-Risk Pregnancy

New here with GD...looking for info and reassurance

Hi everyone. I am 30 w 4 days and just found out today that I have GD after failing the 3 hour test. Tomorrow they have me starting the 2 hour GD counseling and I must say, I am a bit nervous about all of this. I am nervous about checking my blood sugar levels and following the diet...is it that bad? Also, it doesn't mean I will need insulin shots unless I can't control it with diet, right? I don't think I could give myself a shot! When the doc felt around for the baby, she could tell that the baby was measuring a little a head of schedule. My next appointment in 2 weeks, they will do an u/s to assess the baby's growth. I'm just so worried that the baby will be too big for a natural birth. I know that just because you have GD doesn't necessarily mean you will have a big baby and need a c-section, but it is a concern. Can anyone share some more info about GD, treatment, and affects on labor and baby?

Re: New here with GD...looking for info and reassurance

  • Welcome to the board!  I am sorry that you were diagnosed with GD, but if you are well-controlled, it isn't bad.  This is my second pregnancy and my second time with GD.  If it was that bad, I wouldn't have done it again.  Especially knowing that I had an increased chance of having GD again, and earlier.

    You get used to the testing.  If your MFM (will you be seeing a specialist?) uses the One Touch Ultra 2 monitor, then you can use the Delicas needles.  They are tiny and you can hardly feel them after a couple of days.  The hardest part of testing for me is making sure to test in time.  I find that keeping a regular schedule is key.  I always have my meals and snacks at the same times.  Going out with friends/family was the only challenge my first time around.  Now, scheduling around my toddler is the biggest challenge.

    I found that keeping a food log was very helpful in the beginning.  You will get lots of good nutritional information tomorrow.  Your diet will be a lot of trial and error.  Some women don't do well with white rice/pasta.  I am one of those ladies :).  I can have dairy in the morning, which lots of women can't.  Again- trial and error and keeping a good food log will help you figure this stuff out. 

    I cannot stress how important exercise is for lowering your blood sugar.  You don't have to do anything very difficult.  Going for a 20-30 minute walk after meals is really beneficial.  The sugar in your system will be used by your muscles and won't stay in your bloodstream or cross your placenta.  Plus- it is a great stress reliever and helps keep you in good cardiovascular health. 

    I had a vaginal birth with DD.  She was 7 lbs 5 oz.  I got a late epi last time.  I would love to have a med-free birth this time.  My GD will not affect my ability to have a natural birth as long as I stay well-controlled.

    I was diet and exercise controlled last time around.  So far, I am diet and exercise controlled, again.  It is very early for me right now and my placenta will release more hormones later in my pregnancy that increase insulin resistance.  We'll see what happens then.  My doctor does not use oral meds with his GD patients, so I would need insuling.  Lots of doctors use oral meds or a combo of insulin and oral meds.  You will learn what your doctor does at your visit tomorrow.  Good luck with everything.  The ladies on this board are always helpful and friendly.  And, of course, sometimes a GD mama just needs to vent and we all understand what you are going through!  Hope you have a good visit tomorrow!

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  • rainlily covered pretty much everything, lol. GD is annoying, but overall not bad. The diet was hard for me at first, just because I LIKE CARBS. But I just keep telling myself you can do anything for a few months. I have to start insulin tomorrow, but they had me practice, and honestly, pricking your finger for testing hurts more than the very thin needle you have for the insulin. Not bad at all. If you can get your blood sugar numbers under control, you'll be fine. You can totally still have a natural birth.

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  • I have diet controlled GD.  At times it can suck being pregnant and being able to eat what you want when you want (that's pretty much how I was eating throughout the pregnancy though I was a very healthy eater and a huge exerciser when not PG).  However, the diet is not bad- you still get your carbs- you just need to watch your portions. My baby at the beginning of third tri was measuring in the 80th percentile and I was worried she'd be huge (I'm 5'3" and was only 110 pre-PG) but now she's in the 60th percentile so the diet has helped in that regard. 

    Since being diagnosed with GD I've had two appointments a week one non stress test and OB visit and the other a sonogram (biophysical every week and growth and biophysical every other week).  If she doesn't come before next Tuesday they will induce me on my due date. I'm not thrilled about that but that's my OB office's protocol. 

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  • sraexxsraexx member

    The needles are a pain but the timing, for me, is the biggest difficulty. The diet isn't so bad, but it is easy to get in a rut. When I get in a rut, I look through these GD posts. We give each others loads of snack ideas. I am not on insulin yet, but I have a scare every week pretty much where the give me 1 more day...but somehow my blood keeps steady when I need it to.

    Good luck! 

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