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Gestational Diabetes Anyone?

post #1 of 10
Thread Starter 

Hi Gals,

 

I went for a check up today and it was the third time that they found glucose in my urine so Friday I have to take a glucose intolerence blood test.  I am tall and thin but I am an "older" mom. So I am hoping I don't have gestational diabetes.  I barely eat sweets, but I do drink alot of fruit juice. 

I am wondering if Dandelion greens, Dandelion tea and nettles tea would help cleanse the kidneys and help flush my system.

 

I really do not want to have a C section and was wondering if anyone else ever had Gestational Diabetes and had to have a C section. Supposedly the baby can grow bigger if you have Gest. Diabetes...

 

anyone?

post #2 of 10

I have several friends who have had gest diabetes and both had natual vaginal deliveries.  These mothers were able to control their GD with diet-- they were told how many carbs and protein, etc... to eat every day and both of them were successful in avoiding medication.  Also- both babies were typical size babies.  I think that uncontrolled GD is what leads to huge babies.

post #3 of 10

I had it with my last pregnancy and it was well controlled with diet and I had a high intervention (for other reasons) vaginal birth. This time eating much healthier than last time for the whole pregnancy, I'm having problems controlling with just diet I've been monitoring on my own) so I did my glucose testing today and the issues I've been having with this is one of the reasons my midwives and I have gone our separate ways as of today.  I should find out the results of the testing tomorrow.

post #4 of 10

I'd suggest getting a glucometer and monitoring for yourself to see what causes your sugars to spike.  Make sure to read up on what to do before the glucose screen (ie. eat only protein for breakfast, like two eggs with bacon, two hours before your test).  A lot of juice probably isn't the best idea for pregnant ladies, they contain a lot of sugar.  Just getting a label of GD increases your chances of having a C-section, but that a lot to do with how it is handled by care providers.  Well managed GD does not necessarily increase your odds.
 

post #5 of 10

Hi Babinogi, I had GD with my first pregnancy, and I too am tall and thin. I was told this doesn't necessarily have anything to do with whether you develop the condition; maternal age is definitely a factor. The most important thing: don't panic! Even if you have it, it does not automatically mean you will have a bigger baby or that you need to have a C-section. I had a natural vaginal delivery, no problems and my daughter weighed 7 lb 13 oz at birth-- hardly macrosomic. FWIW, my sister had GD too with her second child, and she was born at 7 lbs even, after a vaginal birth.

 

I second the suggestion of buying a glucometer and testing just to see what's going on. It's a far more reliable way of understanding how you're responding to processing sugar than the OGTT test. Test in the morning upon waking, and 2 hours after completing your meals.

 

Finally, just wanted to add that if it turns out you DO have GD (and you may not), if you are able to control it with diet and exercise, you are considered no higher risk than any other pregnant woman having a "normal" pregnancy. This is super important, because a well-meaning OB might try to pressure you into induction, NSTs, C-section scheduling, etc, "just to be safe", when in fact the protocols do not call for it. I had this happen to me in my first pregnancy and switched to a midwife at 35 weeks (it's never too late as it turns out!) who felt as passionately about this issue as I did. That turned out to be the best decision I could have made. If I had stayed with my OB, I think I would've ended up with a C-sec for sure, and that would have been less than ideal as I can't have an epidural due to a spinal rod, and would need general anesthesia for a C-sec.

post #6 of 10
Thread Starter 

Thank you Gals for all the responses.  Turns out I DON'T have GD! Whew! But then I wonder if I could test for it later on - so I am trying to be careful, but I cut out juice after breakfast. So only orange juice in the am with breakfast. Eating lots of salads.  And never any cake or cookies.

 

I am also thinking of changing from OB to midwife led care.  The Doctor last visit even said to me, "Perhaps you would prefer midwife led care" after I refused the 28 week growth scan.....but i have what they call in the UK "shared care" so I see both, so I figured I'd have both so that I can build a relationship with a doctor just in case....but now I'm starting to think that to reduce anxiety and worry, that mentally I should switch to midwife led care - as doctors are trained to look for what is wrong....

 

Anyway, thank you for all your concerns.  I'm very relieved that I don't have GD.
 

post #7 of 10

I am relieved to hear your news! So happy for you!

post #8 of 10

I had the glucose tolerance test this morning and my dr's office called this afternoon to tell me that my level was way elevated. Their cut off is 131 and mine was 181. They're referring me to another dr where I can meet with a nutritionist and learn how to check my glucose levels. I'm so upset about it. It's going to be pretty difficult for me. Anyone have any advice? I'm also very worried about the chances of needing a C section. Ugh. 

post #9 of 10

I know several of you were concerned about GD and c-section.  My BFF  in real life had GD with her last daughter and delivered her 100% natural, and she weighed in around 7 10oz.  She has GD with her second also and is due any day, planning on going all natural again.  She controlled hers with a meter and watching her meals very carefully.  There is no need for a c-section just because you have GD.  I wanted to share another positive GD story!!!

 

Hugs to all of you that have it!!! I know it can be very hard to deal with!

post #10 of 10

I've not been on the computer much recently and will try to spend some time in the next couple days catching up with everyone, but I just wanted to share that today I finally got my GD test results back from my former midwives (after quite a battle to get them) and I don't actually have GD this time around!!!!  Interesting since that was the biggest reason they didn't want me in their practice,...not that I want them as my midwives at this point anyways, but if my tests had been positive it would have limited my choice of new care providers considerably.

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