question about gestational diabetes...size of baby

Aspen436

I've been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and I'm really nervous!  I am a FTM.  I've been eating so healthy this entire pregnancy and only gained about 13 pounds and I'm 31 weeks.  I am shocked that I have it... I am very thin, healthy, exercise... but I know that this has nothing to do with it and that it's just my body and hormones.  But I am still a little concerned.  I want to do what ever is best for my baby boy!  Anyway, I have so many questions....I meant to ask my doctor but I forgot.  The baby is measuring big already (85th percentile), and I'm wondering if once I get my blood sugar under control... will the baby's size level off and potentially be of average size by the time I reach my due date?  I'm concerned that he's so big already... and I know he will continue to grow lots in the next month or so.  I am hoping now that I am getting my sugar regulated, his size won't be an issue. I know that's what happens with gestational diabetes, you have big babies.  But I'm wondering if controlling the sugar will also help in controlling his weight gain?  But I am really not sure.  Has anyone with GD been told that their baby was measuring big when you were first diagnosed but once you managed your sugar; did you notice baby weight gain leveled off as the weeks progressed?

MrsBarkel2B

He won't stop growing but his rate of growth could be lessened if your sugars are more regulated. I never got to term though. My son was my bad GD baby and he was born at 34 weeks. He was 6 pounds 12 oz. the doctor said if it wasn't for my GD he would have been REALLY small and might have needed NICU time for him to grow some. 

SunAndRain

I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you. I just want to let you know that I sympathize.  I've tried hard to eat reasonably and get exercise and to be diagnosed with GD despite all your good efforts must be really frustrating .  Wishing you and your baby good health.

kkfeb04

My sugars were well controlled with DS (I barely failed the three hour at 28 weeks) and was diet controlled.  He ended up being 10 lbs 22" at birth 39 weeks.  With DD, I failed the one hour at 13 weeks and asked to be diagnosed with it.  My sugars were well controlled even without meds and she was measuring at 40% until 32 weeks when DS also ballooned.  She was still measuring smaller than he was by at that point she was 5 lbs 3 oz whereas DS was 5 lbs 13 oz.  By 36 weeks, he measured 8 lbs 1 oz and she measured 8 lbs 11 oz.  She was born at exactly 37 weeks (not due to the GD, due to the fact that I was contracting every minute and I was a RCS and not a VBAC candidate) weighing 9 lbs 2 oz, 21".  She would've been much bigger than he was if I went to my RCS at 39 weeks.

The babies will always gain weight, it may be quicker if your sugars aren't controlled but they will consistently gain.  I had u/s each week for the last 10 weeks with both and with DS, he always gained 1/2 lb at each u/s.  With DD, I had the u/s at the hospital and they didn't even let me see the screen let alone tell me an estimate so I don't know how she was gaining, but she went from being 10 oz smaller to being 10 oz larger than DS in 4 weeks, so I imagine she was gaining more than that.

 

 

smacb

I had GD with my son and I have it with this baby.  With my son, it was diet controlled.  He was 8'10 at 38 weeks.  HIs growth didn't level out, but I stopped gaining.

With this baby, I was diagnosed at 9 weeks and I'm on meds.  He's measuring in the 90th percentile.  They guessed his weight to be 8 lbs. last time they checked.  

With both babies, I put on almost no weight third tri, but they just got huge! 

gracefulash

My LO was measuring big  and l had GD. l carried her until 39 weeks and she only weighed 7lbs 4oz. I wasn't diagnosed til 34 weeks and put on metformin to help with my sugar. 

doxgirl

With DS I was on insulin for my GD. I was induced at my due date, and he was 7 lbs. 5 oz.  The growth ultrasounds that I had late in pregnancy were off. I was anticipating that he was going to be larger.

~Ellie

I'm going to a Birth Center with a midwife.  I was diagnosed at week 30 with GD.  The only risk factor I had was I am over 25.  So it was a bit of a surprise. 

I cried at the next two prenatal visits mostly because there was so much I didn't know.  I was worried because:

• I thought it might risk me out of a water birth (it doesn't)
• I actually lost weight the first couple weeks on the diabetes diet (the midwife said that happens and it's fine. Now I am gaining at a much slower rate.)
• I would have to undergo stress tests or extra ultra sounds (only if I want to, labor will be the test if the kid is too big to be born vaginally.)
• I would have to be hooked up to an IV to maintain my blood sugar during labor. (Nope, although I will have to test my blood sugar every couple hours and I will be allowed to drink or eat to maintain levels if I need to.)
• If I couldn't keep my blood sugar under 140 1-hour after every single meal they would tell me I needed insulin. The first week I had 4 instances where my BG was above 140. Since then it has only been once a week or so that I read high.  I've been told I'm doing a very good job managing blood sugar.

Not sure if you wanted to know all that, but those were the questions I wanted answered when I was first diagnosed.  It will depend some on your doctor.  Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you feel like your provider is overly cautious or overly unconcerned.