@mia80 I had low iron at my last appointment and ended up with an anemia label. So far it's just taking iron supplements. They're kind of a pain since you're technically not supposed to eat anything with them but then you definitely feel sick. So I noped right out of that and am just eating minimally with it and avoiding the (long) list of foods that you really really shouldn't eat with the supplement (certain things prevent absorption). Not sure if they'll check again to see if things are improving or not though?
If you did "fail" you will have to go back for the 3 hour they test your sugar before drinking anything (you have to have been fasting for 8 hours prior), then you drink the solution, and get your sugar tested at 1, 2, and 3 hours after you've had it. At my practice if 2 or more of those tests are above normal, then you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Many times it can be managed with diet and exercise and by testing your blood sugars at home. In some cases you may need to have insulin injections for the rest of the pregnancy. You would also likely be monitored more closely towards the end of the pregnancy with growth scans and non stress tests.
Also, I have always found the different scales to be incredibly annoying. At my practice, I failed the 1 hour with DD2 with a 132 even though some practices use 135 or 140 for the benchmark.
Sounds like they are both very treatable and common, so will wait to see what my OB says (although I will call Friday if I haven't heard anything!!) I rechecked my results, and definitely out of range for glucose but there is a comment saying something about a tolerance test....so won't stress until I get the results from that one!! For iron, I'm pretty sure I'm out of range... My Iron binding level was "above upper panic limit" (I love how they explain the ranges, sheesh), and several other tests were out of range so I'm assuming I'll get the anemia label, but I can deal with a supplement.
@mia80 it’s less to confirm GD and more of to double check. They basically use much much more stringent guidelines for the 1 hour test to ensure they provide further testing to anyone who might even remotely have a chance of not properly processing glucose. The 3hr test has lower limits for passing and a good handful of mamas who fail the 1 hr go on to pass the 3 hour. Some of us just take longer to process sugars but that doesn’t make us diabetic. IF you fail the 3 hour they usually start by putting you on a low carb diet and ask you to monitor blood sugar regularly at home. Many mamas are able to keep it in check easily that way and go on to deliver perfectly healthy babies. I believe the primary concerns with uncontrolled GD is bigger babies and babies with blood sugar issues.
@mia80 just wanted to add that I also had low iron today and my OB said it wasn't a big deal, they just will have me add an iron supplement to my prenatal. They called one in to the pharmacy for me, its 325 mg iron tablets.
The taste of the drink never really bothered me...I had orange for my first two and lime this time. This time I really felt it make my sugar spike though. I felt HORRIBLE after about 15 minutes, so sick. I went on Monday morning and I still don’t have my results! So annoying.
I’m trying to decide if I want to go back to the elective ultrasound place for a 4D scan. They have recently started allowing kids to come again (for a little while it was one guest only, now you can have 3 including children so we could all go). I think my kids’ reactions would be so worth it. With me no longer working though, I’m kind of trying to cut down on unnecessary spending. I need to see how MH feels about it. I think we get a discount since we went to them for the gender scan so it might only run us around $100. My OB office doesn’t do any additional ultrasounds after the AS so this would be the only chance we’d have to see her again on ultrasound.
@mia80 FWIW, my hemoglobin was 9.9 (moderately anemic) when I went to the OB at the end of March. My midwife recommended Floradix, which is a liquid iron supplement. The dose is 10ml 2x a day and it contains fruit juice so it’s easy to take and it never bothered my stomach. Someone above mentioned that there are foods that hinder absorption, so I try to space the Floradix ~2 hours after eating, and eat ~30 minutes after taking it. I also made an effort to increase my consumption of iron-rich foods, along with vitamin C foods (vit C aids iron absorption). There are lots of lists online of the foods that hinder/help absorption, but I found it interesting to just read labels. Also, cooking with cast iron can add a bit of iron to your diet.
It’s my understanding that anemia during pregnancy puts you at risk for complications related to blood loss. There’s a midwife on YouTube called The Cajun Stork who recently posted a useful video about anemia in pregnancy.
Had my iron checked at my appointment two weeks ago and my levels are normal. I learned a lot through the experience!
@csardaszz oh that's great to know for future knowledge if I ever need to take an iron supplement (and for those who may be needing to now). That sounds a lot easier on the stomach than those supplements!
I LOVE cast iron pans... We really only use ours when we're camping though (glass top stove) although I suppose I could use it in the oven 🤔
BFP 3/21/2020! OMG We're having TWINS! 4/17/2020 -------------------------------- LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby! -------------------------------- Me: 33 | DH: 41 Married: March 2016 TTC #1/IUD out January 2017 PCOS dx January 2018 Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018 BFP 3/10/2018! -------------------------------
TTGP December Siggy Co-Winner: Favorite Moments from Holiday Movies/TV
@csardaszz Glad to hear your levels are normal now!! I got a call from my OB this morning and I am low Iron, so she sent a prescription to my pharmacy. I don't know what it is yet, but I will remember Floradix just in case this prescription bugs me! Was actually a little surprised I'm anemic because we eat a lot of red meat here and even a fair amount of other high iron foods. I didn't know about cast iron... but DH even uses cast iron for cooking on the BBQ all the time!
@mia80 that is weird, but also certain foods do restrict iron absorption such as calcium rich foods. Where as foods rich in Vit C will actual promote absorption (sorry dietitian/nerd). I also hadn't had time to reply. Also with gestational diabetes like others said it is more eating a well rounded diet and not over doing carbohydrates, usually carb counting and checking to make sure you stage in your blood sugar range. The concern is that if your blood sugar is uncontrolled then you are at higher risk of having a large baby, plus when they are first born their blood sugars will be unstable. Also there is a lot of studies that show that women with uncontrolled blood sugars that were gestational diabetes, their kids are more like to develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes ( I live in an area where this is actually really common). But as long as you eat a healthy diet and keep track of your blood sugar with gestational diabetes your baby is fine.
@mia80 My OB's office policy is no news is good news, however if you are out of range on the first test, then definitely call them to set up the 3-hour. Don't stress, the 1-hour is infamous for false positives - anything could have affected the reading including what you ate that morning and even if you ate (if you fasted, you will likely receive a false positive). I'd call ASAP so you can take the 3-hour and should you fail begin managing GD.
As far as how gestational diabetes effect the baby; I'm not totally sure other that larger babies and complications relating to that. I think @magdaaaa may be a good person to ask.
@laurenmicheley oh geez, no news is good news would drive me batty! I want to know from my dr good or bad
BFP 3/21/2020! OMG We're having TWINS! 4/17/2020 -------------------------------- LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby! -------------------------------- Me: 33 | DH: 41 Married: March 2016 TTC #1/IUD out January 2017 PCOS dx January 2018 Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018 BFP 3/10/2018! -------------------------------
TTGP December Siggy Co-Winner: Favorite Moments from Holiday Movies/TV
@mia80 - as a 2 time GD mama and a nurse, I think I can help! Basically gestational diabetes only poses (what I consider) to be a true health risk to baby when undiagnosed or untreated. in those circumstances, the effects of insulin resistance can be dangerous to a baby in utero, but that is why they test and thus not an issue!
GD also certainly plays a roll in the size of baby, mine were 9 lb 7 oz at 39 weeks and 8 lb 10 oz at 38 weeks respectively. so it definitely cause some chunky monkeys for me, however I had no issues delivering vaginally with induction. once baby is born, it means they will do 3-4 heel sticks to check babies sugar levels after delivery, and assuming those are good (both of mine were always fine) they will be good to go in that regard. you literally are no longer diabetic within hours-days after delivering which is great!
GD for you can potentially mean an increased risk for higher BP as you get further along, which was the case for me. I never got to pre-e status, but my elevated BP was the primary basis for both of my inductions - WHICH WERE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES. don't believe everything you hear/read.
if you do in fact have it, it will hopefully just mean carb and protein counting which is mildly annoying but really very simple, eating smaller meals more frequently, and 4 finger sticks a day to check your blood glucose. again - annoying but so temporary and worth it. you will quickly learn what works for you and doesn't and how certain things affect your sugar and what treats you can get away with. I have always been fortunate in being both diet and exercise controlled. the other option is daily insulin injections which involve the worlds absolute tiniest needle and its so easy a monkey could do it - I promise.
try not to stress it if possible. if you fasted before your test that would absolutely cause a "false" positive, and if you end up being diagnosed - then knowledge is power sister. there is truly nothing you can do to prevent or cause the diagnosis, and it just is what it is. if you have any more questions AT ALL I would love to answer them as best I can! hope this helps
me 32 | dh 45
married 11.11.17 mama. epicurean. plant lover. wine enthusiast.
@mtengl Thanks for the info!! I've been trying to get a lot more calcium in my diet... so maybe that's part of what caused it? I have no idea! When I picked up my iron at lunch today there was also a note to take it with Vitamin C, so that makes sense now. For GD, my OB confirmed I failed this test, so really hoping I pass the next test (it's 2 hours here... not 3???) because I have am constantly craving carbs with baby!!!!!!!
@laurenmicheley That's my OB's policy too... so frustrating! But we recently got a portal for lab results, so at least I can see when those results are posted and she usually gets back to me a day or two later if anything comes up. She did confirm this morning that I failed, so going back on Tuesday for the next test.
@mia80 GD only causes problems for baby IF it isn’t managed. I have GD and my MFM specialist said that if it isn’t managed, the baby can be a lot bigger than normal, preterm labor is more common, and there is an increased risk of stillbirth. The baby also has a higher chance of developing diabetes as they get older. As long as it is managed and monitored, the baby doesn’t generally have any problems. They do more growth scans and induce labor if you go to much beyond your due date, or the baby seems to be getting too big. It is super common to fail the one hour test, so hopefully you will not have any problems with the three hour test.
It is the little things in life ladies... Things that make me feel normal (did this in order):
dropping off DD
going to the local coffee shop to pick up myself a large iced latte and pastry and coffee beans for DH (it is like walking into Cheers)
Getting Gas and actually filling my car up all the way
car wash
picking up cash for DH
taking all the backroads, driving over the posted speed limit (only 5 miles above ladies), windows down, and music blasting What makes you feel normal?
I thought pregnancy brain was done, but the last few days have proven otherwise. Earlier in the week I took my son to walk around a path at a park. When we got back to the car I realized I left his tablet on top of the car by his door. Yesterday I left my phone in the same spot and drove from Home Depot to Target with it on my roof and had no idea until I got there 🤦🏼♀️
My husband’s response was “umm maybe you shouldn’t put things on top of the car anymore.”
Have any of you had a prenatal massage? I am thinking about booking a surprise couples massage for me and MH at this place that does prenatal massages, but I'm just not sure how it will work with my big belly, lol!
@bserena I had a massage about a month ago... and it was awesome! The lady I went to didn't have the pregnancy table (with the hole in the middle), but she just used extra pillows to prop me up on my side and did the massage that way. It felt soooo good on my hips and upper back! Was thinking of maybe trying to do a couples one with DH for our anniversary in October... but not sure that I'll enjoy it as much that close to my due date!
@mia80 okay that's good to know! I havent had a massage in so long and I feel like it'd be really nice, just wasn't sure how it would work! Glad to hear you enjoyed it
@bserena I had prenatal massages with previous preganancies and they were amazing! Same thing as @mia80 said, I laid on my side with lots of pillows and a heating pad on my back when she wasn't working on my back. I just made sure they were certified/experienced with prenatal massage. I think they would do massage up until 36 weeks at the place I went to.
@bserena Definitely schedule the massage! I’ve had two and have another scheduled for next month. It is so relaxing and really helps with little aches and pains.
@bserena when I worked at a bed & breakfast, we had travelling massage therapists that would come to the cabins. Whenever we were scheduling a massage for someone who was pregnant, we let the therapists know, and they would bring plenty of extra towels/pillows to place around you during the massage.
ALSO; first time I've used The Bump on my computer, not my phone, and it is pleasantly not a PITA lol
If you are thinking about paying for a 4D US. You should check your area to see if they have a place that does the heartbeat bears/stuffed animals. At the US they take a recording of baby’s HB and put it in a little device and stuff it in your chosen stuffed animal for a keepsake. I got one with DD it’s a hippo with a rainbow tutu. I need to schedule an apt for this baby.
@name1109 fingers crossed but I think we are on the other side of the 18 month sleep regression DD just turned 19 months. But yeah she has been pushing her boundaries too. @potofgolden I am trying to decide to get the heartbeat bear or not. I would get it for DD if anything
@name1109 Yep!! DS is just about 18 months and has decided that now it the time not only to be a major grump throughout the day (constantly wanting to be picked up, oof!, and then back down, and then read this same book for the 10th time this day, and if you're not entertaining me constantly I will cry!!), but that it's also time to test out crying at put-downs again. He's been a solid sleeper for quite a while now. But the last two nights have had solid 15 minute blocks of crying and naps have been similar. It's like he's wanting to test out that we're still serious about this whole bedtime thing. Hopefully he'll get the message soon.
@name1109 my toddler is testing me SO MUCH right now. I ended the day yesterday sobbing because I feel like all I do is yell at him. He will be 3 in October and is getting to the stage where he doesn't want to listen to anything I say and in general is a terror all day every day. He cut out naps in March and we just put him into a toddler bed when we moved into the new house so sleeps seems nonexistent. I just want my sweet little boy back lol.
@dumbledoredies I feel the same about my 3.5 year old. He gets a thrill from being naughty and will even tell me he’s a bad guy 🙄. Sometimes I feel like the battles begin when he wakes up and don’t end until he’s asleep again.
@mtengl@auburnvelvet86@dumbledoredies SO FRUSTRATING. DD is 3 next month. The last two nights she decided that sleep between 4-6am will not happen for me. That and the tantrums. She’s NOT loving the idea of baby 4 😭😭😭😭
@potofgolden thank you for saying today was Rainbow day. I was happy to send my sister a reminder of the day. Thanks!
@name1109 for a good three-four weeks my 19 month old was in our bed by 1am at the latest.... past three nights she has slept all night in her crib so I think we were dealing with a sleep regression. In my Jan19 group there is some moms with 3-4 year olds and they said they were having sleep issues/being trouble makers so I think it occurs on and off... soooo exhausting
Re: August Randoms
If you did "fail" you will have to go back for the 3 hour they test your sugar before drinking anything (you have to have been fasting for 8 hours prior), then you drink the solution, and get your sugar tested at 1, 2, and 3 hours after you've had it. At my practice if 2 or more of those tests are above normal, then you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Many times it can be managed with diet and exercise and by testing your blood sugars at home. In some cases you may need to have insulin injections for the rest of the pregnancy. You would also likely be monitored more closely towards the end of the pregnancy with growth scans and non stress tests.
Sounds like they are both very treatable and common, so will wait to see what my OB says (although I will call Friday if I haven't heard anything!!) I rechecked my results, and definitely out of range for glucose but there is a comment saying something about a tolerance test....so won't stress until I get the results from that one!! For iron, I'm pretty sure I'm out of range... My Iron binding level was "above upper panic limit" (I love how they explain the ranges, sheesh), and several other tests were out of range so I'm assuming I'll get the anemia label, but I can deal with a supplement.
It’s my understanding that anemia during pregnancy puts you at risk for complications related to blood loss. There’s a midwife on YouTube called The Cajun Stork who recently posted a useful video about anemia in pregnancy.
I LOVE cast iron pans... We really only use ours when we're camping though (glass top stove) although I suppose I could use it in the oven 🤔
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
-------------------------------
Also with gestational diabetes like others said it is more eating a well rounded diet and not over doing carbohydrates, usually carb counting and checking to make sure you stage in your blood sugar range. The concern is that if your blood sugar is uncontrolled then you are at higher risk of having a large baby, plus when they are first born their blood sugars will be unstable. Also there is a lot of studies that show that women with uncontrolled blood sugars that were gestational diabetes, their kids are more like to develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes ( I live in an area where this is actually really common). But as long as you eat a healthy diet and keep track of your blood sugar with gestational diabetes your baby is fine.
As far as how gestational diabetes effect the baby; I'm not totally sure other that larger babies and complications relating to that. I think @magdaaaa may be a good person to ask.
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
-------------------------------
GD also certainly plays a roll in the size of baby, mine were 9 lb 7 oz at 39 weeks and 8 lb 10 oz at 38 weeks respectively. so it definitely cause some chunky monkeys for me, however I had no issues delivering vaginally with induction. once baby is born, it means they will do 3-4 heel sticks to check babies sugar levels after delivery, and assuming those are good (both of mine were always fine) they will be good to go in that regard. you literally are no longer diabetic within hours-days after delivering which is great!
GD for you can potentially mean an increased risk for higher BP as you get further along, which was the case for me. I never got to pre-e status, but my elevated BP was the primary basis for both of my inductions - WHICH WERE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES. don't believe everything you hear/read.
if you do in fact have it, it will hopefully just mean carb and protein counting which is mildly annoying but really very simple, eating smaller meals more frequently, and 4 finger sticks a day to check your blood glucose. again - annoying but so temporary and worth it. you will quickly learn what works for you and doesn't and how certain things affect your sugar and what treats you can get away with. I have always been fortunate in being both diet and exercise controlled. the other option is daily insulin injections which involve the worlds absolute tiniest needle and its so easy a monkey could do it - I promise.
try not to stress it if possible. if you fasted before your test that would absolutely cause a "false" positive, and if you end up being diagnosed - then knowledge is power sister. there is truly nothing you can do to prevent or cause the diagnosis, and it just is what it is. if you have any more questions AT ALL I would love to answer them as best I can! hope this helps
mama. epicurean. plant lover. wine enthusiast.
@laurenmicheley That's my OB's policy too... so frustrating! But we recently got a portal for lab results, so at least I can see when those results are posted and she usually gets back to me a day or two later if anything comes up. She did confirm this morning that I failed, so going back on Tuesday for the next test.
What makes you feel normal?
Home Depot to Target with it on my roof and had no idea until I got there 🤦🏼♀️
ALSO; first time I've used The Bump on my computer, not my phone, and it is pleasantly not a PITA lol
@kerriec93 oh yeah. I mostly use TB on my laptop, SO much better than the app!
@potofgolden I am trying to decide to get the heartbeat bear or not. I would get it for DD if anything
Celebrating with DD, getting her some donuts!
@potofgolden thank you for saying today was Rainbow day. I was happy to send my sister a reminder of the day. Thanks!