[Terrilein]

I had an appointment with my mw today and she was really surprised at how large I am, even for a second pregnancy. She asked me directly if I was sure of my dates, which I am. I showed her my TTC chart, which was in my mother's pass (a kind of pregnancy book for mother's all relevant data with each pregnancy in it), to show that I ovulated on the ninth day of my cycle and could not possibly have gotten pregnant before that. She thought maybe it could have been the month before, but that's not possible either - the temps are all wrong for the first nine days then. Also, there was no baby visible on the u/s at 4 weeks yet. Then we got to talking about twins and although she didn't rule it out, she didn't palpate my abdomen for more telltale baby parts either so I'm thinking she doesn't seriously consider it - especially since there were no twins to be seen in my previous u/s. It's just not possible to miss a twin at 20 weeks, is it??? I asked about too much amniotic fluid, and she said it doesn't feel like that. She feels just a LOT of baby. Her only other explanation for my rapid weight gain in the first trimester and continuing abnormal weight gain now is GD. I have an appointment next week with my new OB/Gyn for my last u/s, and I'm supposed to ask her if GD is a possibilty or if baby's size and my weight gain are par for the course. My mw is not too keen on testing for GD, but she'd like to hear what the doc says. Granted I DID quit smoking when I got my positive test, and I rather assumed after my former OB/Gyn ruled out twins that that was the reason for the weight gain. My mw said it might be that. Now I'm wondering . . . GD??? Why else would I measure so large already? My mw is btw very, VERY experienced - 25 years in the field with well over 1,000 births. If she hadn't looked at my mother's pass and seen the weight I've gained, it never would have occurred to her that I might be a GD candidate. She just automatically assumed my dates were off, until we checked my TTC chart.<br>
Has anyone had anything like this at all? I don't wanna have GD!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bawling.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bawl">

 

[ammiga]

My MW doesn't test for GD and she doesn't weigh me. I measured 2 weeks ahead every week until week 28. At my 26 week appt, I measured 28 weeks. At my 28 week appt, I measured 28 weeks. I don't have my 30 week appt until next week. But, my MW was never concerned. I don't know how far ahead you are measuring, but I would just ask your MW if she is worried. If she's not, you shouldn't worry either. My MW said the fact that I measured ahead could just be the baby's position for several weeks, and now it is more curled up instead of stretched out. If your MW wasn't worried before, I don't see why she'd be worried now.<br><br>
In my experience, an OB will tell you that GD is a possibility and have you take the test. I'd go in prepared for whether or not you want to take the test and how the results (and their so-so reliability) will impact the rest of your pregnancy.

 

[Terrilein]

Well, I sure hope the new OB/Gyn isn't test-happy. My mw actually recommended her after I had a, ahem, falling out with my previous OB/Gyn over my homebirthing plans. This OB/Gyn is totally cool about alternating care with a mw and is very open to homebirth. At my first and only visit so far, all the AMA testing was discused and she didn't try to push us at all to have everything or even anything done. As a matter of fact, she seemed like she personally would never do all the screenings either. I really, really like her and hope she's not going to torture me with unnecessary GD tests. I mean, what if I do have GD? What would it change other than me getting a lecture on my diet?

 

[tcooper]

How "big" are you measuring? How much weight have you gained and what are you eating? Do you have excessive thirst/urination? Have you tested your urine at all to know if you are passing ketones?<br><br>
ETA: I just noticed your second post. IF you have GD, you may be "risked out" for home birth, depending on your midwife. You would need to seriously change your diet (I recommend something like Brewer - ~80g protein daily, whole grains, colored fruits/veg, salt to taste, 2 liters h2o daily). I was able to get a friend symptom-free over a weekend following that diet.

 

[EMandM]

I was diagnosed with GD last week. I've gained 15 lbs and at 24.5 weeks I was measuring 22 and then at 28 weeks I was measuring 29, so not overly big, but a big gain. As for me, my GD is pretty well controlled with my diet. I have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day. I can't have any bread, pasta, potatoes, cereal <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">, or sweets. If I eat high protien with steamed veggies my BS is in the 80's after 2 hours, if I have a bowl of cereal, it is 140-180 2 hours later. It has been a learing experience figuring out what my body can and can't handle.<br><br>
I hope all is well with your BS. I am also doing a homebirth and was told as long as I can keep my GD under control with my diet I won't be risked out of it.

 

[Terrilein]

Well, she measured with a measuring tape, but I didn't bother asking what that measurement was since I haven't ever bothered. She puts a different entry in my pass anyways which is the standard with OB/Gyns in Germany. My uterus is now two fingers below my ribcage which puts me at about 34 weeks - 4 weeks ahead of where I am now. I get my urine tested at every visit and it's always normal. My blood tests also always come back normal. Blood pressure is also fine. I've put on 3 kg / 6 lbs since my last visit on April 7 - 3 weeks ago.<br><br>
What am I eating? It seems like everything and nothing. I still have lots of aversions and hardly eat anything for breakfast, but I'll still get a slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter and honey down and a yogurt. Then I'll cook something normal for lunch. Maybe an ice cream in the afternoon, and then hardly anything in the evening. I can't eat much because there's just not enough room and also the heartburn really kicks in. Also, I'm ususally too tired to eat! I will drink softdrinks on the weekend - that's my guilty pleasure, but I don't usually go overboard with that. And I'm not a big juice drinker either, so it's not like I'm getting huge amounts of hidden sugars. I just usually drink coffee for breakfast, water during the day and tea in the evening.<br><br>
I also took the opportunity to do new belly pics so you can see that I'm not HUGELY obese. It's like my mw said - GD would never have occurred to her just by looking at me until she checked my weight gain in my chart. Altogether I've gone from 67 kg / 147 lbs up to 85 kg / 187 lbs and I still have two more months to go. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><br><br>
ETA: she also took a look at the data the OB/Gyns had entered from the u/s so far and they do correspond to the week I'm in, so I should definitely NOT be off by a full month.

 

[Terrilein]

Oh, new posts while I was writing. I have never had problems with my blood sugar being too high - quite the opposite! I've always had problems with low blood sugar. GD would be something completely new for me. I don't know if that would risk me out of a homebirth in Germany, though. My mw didn't mention it.<br><br>
ETA: Now that I think about it I've actually been measuring ahead since the beginning of my pg. It was always dismissed as a second pregnancy effect.

 

[Amynf1]

I had gained 40lbs by 24 weeks in my first pregnancy and the baby consistently measure large (I had several u/s for medical reasons) throughout. I think my fundal height was always 3-4 cm ahead. I gained a total of 60lbs (30 of which came off the first two weeks, so it was mostly water) I didn't have GD and the baby ended up being 8lb 4oz. I am carrying big again this time but without all the weight gain, only 20lbs at 29 weeks. The baby measured perfectly at my 22 week u/s (the only one i've had) and I haven't been measured at all the whole pregnancy. I just have a big stomach. I think sometimes women just carry big. I'm definitely one of them.

 

[mataji4]

I believe that if you are eating well and avoiding white flour, sugar, processed foods and exercising at all, then I wouldn't worry. Every baby is different- size, fundal height measurement, weight gain, etc. I usually run low blood sugar too. My mw isn't concerned either and said there's really no point in checking my blood sugar as long as I am eating what a pregnant woman should be eating! So I am not worrying about it.<br><br>
(Many midwives believe that GD is way, way over-diagnosed.)

 

[mama2toomany]

I am almost 30 weeks and measure about 34 weeks, but I am having twins. I think some people jump to the GD conclusion way too fast. Some babies are just big healthy babies.

 

[MJB]

I measured several inches ahead with my second-- as many as 5, usually 2-4. He was 9 lbs. and healthy. This time I haven't even been measured. I think I am big, the baby's feet are inside my ribcage, and she measured a week ahead at the 19 week ultrasound (although my EDD is based on O at 10 days, so if I'd really conceived a week earlier, it'd have been during my period!) I'm sure my fundal height would measure big if they even did that. I'm choosing not to do the GD screen, but have had a negative result in the past.<br>
Babies aren't the same size, they aren't in the same position, and all moms carry differently.

 

[tcooper]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Terrilein</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358089"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well, she measured with a measuring tape, but I didn't bother asking what that measurement was since I haven't ever bothered. She puts a different entry in my pass anyways which is the standard with OB/Gyns in Germany. My uterus is now two fingers below my ribcage which puts me at about 34 weeks - 4 weeks ahead of where I am now. I get my urine tested at every visit and it's always normal. My blood tests also always come back normal. Blood pressure is also fine. I've put on 3 kg / 6 lbs since my last visit on April 7 - 3 weeks ago.<br><br>
What am I eating? It seems like everything and nothing. I still have lots of aversions and hardly eat anything for breakfast, but I'll still get a slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter and honey down and a yogurt. Then I'll cook something normal for lunch. Maybe an ice cream in the afternoon, and then hardly anything in the evening. I can't eat much because there's just not enough room and also the heartburn really kicks in. Also, I'm ususally too tired to eat! I will drink softdrinks on the weekend - that's my guilty pleasure, but I don't usually go overboard with that. And I'm not a big juice drinker either, so it's not like I'm getting huge amounts of hidden sugars. I just usually drink coffee for breakfast, water during the day and tea in the evening.<br><br>
I also took the opportunity to do new belly pics so you can see that I'm not HUGELY obese. It's like my mw said - GD would never have occurred to her just by looking at me until she checked my weight gain in my chart. Altogether I've gone from 67 kg / 147 lbs up to 85 kg / 187 lbs and I still have two more months to go. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><br><br>
ETA: she also took a look at the data the OB/Gyns had entered from the u/s so far and they do correspond to the week I'm in, so I should definitely NOT be off by a full month.</div>
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I wouldn't think you have GD. You have no symptoms except weight gain? That just doesn't make sense to me. You have only gained 40lbs. I gained around 60 my last pregnancy. This pregnancy I have gained 30 so far, and I am 31 weeks. My last visit I gained 7lb in two weeks. I thought my midwife would mention something. She said, "great weight gain". The only suggestions I would make would be to lay off the soft drinks and eat smaller meals throughout the day. That would help with the heartburn.<br><br>
ETA: I am also measuring 3 weeks ahead. And I am certain of dates because we lost a baby directly before this pregnancy. I had no period between the two. We conceived the ovulation from the miscarriage. I measured 3-4 weeks ahead with my son, so I am not surprise to measure ahead this time. I imagine I will have a large baby, just like the last. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[expat-mama]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Amynf1</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358162"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I just have a big stomach. I think sometimes women just carry big. I'm definitely one of them.</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mataji4</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358237"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I believe that if you are eating well and avoiding white flour, sugar, processed foods and exercising at all, then I wouldn't worry. Every baby is different- size, fundal height measurement, weight gain, etc. I usually run low blood sugar too.</div>
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I had my appointment with my OB this week too and I've gained almost 12.5 kg (27.5lb) and I'm at 31 weeks. My last appointment I tested negative for GD. He tried to give me the whole spiel again about slowing my weight gain and watching what I eat so I went through a whole list of things I DO eat and things I DON'T EVER eat, my portion size, my exercise routine etc. So he finally said something like "well...sometimes some women have different reactions to hormonal changes during pregnancy...some women carry more water weight..." etc. But I should still "watch my weight" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">.<br>
I have no experience or formal knowledge on the subject, but it makes perfect sense to me that different women gain different amounts of weight at different rates during pregnancy! I'm not going to make the mistake again of worrying about what my idiot doctor says because I don't fit into some medical model when I know I'm eating the best foods I can and being my normal healthy self. And you shouldn't worry either! (I would cut out the soft drinks though... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">)<br>
(and btw... Good for you for quitting smoking! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">)

 

[expat-mama]

Just looked at your belly pic! You look amazing (and I love your sweater)!<br>
You don't look super huge at all.<br>
Compared to you I look like I swallowed godzilla...I'm only 5'4 and it's ALL in my belly!<br><br>
Was your daughter a big baby?<br><br>
I think this baby is going to be big...and I was expecting a smallish baby just because that's what we have in MY family. DH's family OTH I think are usually around 8lbs or more...especially his Ukranian/Polish side. They are hardy stock! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I must be having one of THOSE giants.

 

[Terrilein]

Thanks ladies! I feel a lot better about this this morning. I know my diet could be better, but I'm sometimes just too exhausted to think about what the next perfect meal or snack ought to be and just go with what we have. I just keep protein and salt in the back of my mind, since those are items that I'm not really getting enough of, I think. I wish I could eat more eggs, but I just can't stand the sight of them. And I do eat pasta, potatos, etc. (but I'm not a big sugar fan) because I have always eaten everything in moderation and never ever had weight problems. That's just my whole foods philosophy.<br>
And I don't exercise per se, but I don't own a car myself so I have to walk everywhere. Just to pick my dd up from daycare is a 2 km round trip by foot. And I live in the fourth floor of our appartment building which has no elevator. So I'm taking the stairs 3-4 times a day. Of course, I'm not jogging up, but I'm not stopping at every floor to catch my breath yet either.<br><br>
And yeah, I kept thinking, why is GD an issue when I know there are women who gain twice as much as I have so far without having GD at all? I'm trying to stay as positive as possible, but I feel like this weight gain is going to be a major issue for me after the baby arrives. I'm so used to being skinny. After having dd, I didn't lose the weight immediately - I actually gained! - despite exclusively nursing her 10 months and baby wearing, etc. My self-esteem took a really big hit. Eventually I did lose the weight - I don't know WHY - and I was really happy to finally have my body back. I really hope it doesn't take that long this time, but I still have about 10 weeks and I cringe at the thought of how much I'm going to weigh by then. I already weigh 5 kg / 11 lbs more than when I was pg with dd. I don't even want to know how much harder this will make the pp weight loss. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shake.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shake"><br><br>
ETA: Oh, and my dd was perfectly average and arrived just days before her due date. So I don't think I really grow them big. Her father was bigger than DP, but hey maybe she'll take after me. Also I have narrow hips and carry everything high and out front. I still have a waist even! With dd I could literally carry my bump in both hands. I'm not that big yet which is another reason I wasn't too concerned until yesterday.

 

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

I'm measuring big as well, my last check up 4 weeks ago I was 25 weeks and measuring 31 I think she said. I don't feel like I'm so huge, I think I've gained 35-40lbs with this, which is one of my bigger babies, but I have to admit I haven't eaten the best the last month. I go again next Thursday and we'll see what my mw has to say then...