Gestational Diabetes

[twinyy]

So, I have a new dx., GD. I always delivered rather nice size babies, but, without any GD. Now, I am measuring more than 3 weeks ahead, and now I know why. Anyone else have any experience, I would especially like to hear about deliveries and complications, just curious.

[Mommameyer00]

Hi there,

I have GD and did with my last DD. Complications could include large babies that might result in a c-section, with larger babies the baby can get shoudler dystocia, which is very broad shoudlers. One problem with our last delivery was she had problems breathing right after delivery which the OB said was due to the diabetes. A drop in blood sugars for the babe right after birth leading to the staff giving formula is another possibilty.

Personally, I was able to control my sugars with diet and excercise my last pregnancy, however; this pregnancy has been much harder. I am on medication already to help lower my blood sugars and hopefully will avoid insulin.

I hope this helps.

[FallBabies]

I have GD as well. I actually was tested/diagnosed very early in pg, since this is pg #2 and last time I had it as well. I was able to manage it very well with diet up until about week 28 this time. My only problem was that my fasting #s are always too high (and can't be diet managed.) At about week 28, I went on Glyburide to try and control things. It helped, but over the past few weeks I've noticed the numbers climbing, and a couple weeks ago I went on insulin. Now I'm 32 weeks and my #s are continuously climbing, so it's all a game of upping the insulin to try and keep up. I'm getting a level 2 u/s on Monday to see what is happening w/ the baby. The specialist (MFM) reassured me that there is nothing I am doing wrong, that it is due to the hormones jumping up now, but I still feel a lot of guilt and shame over it.
I was measuring 3 weeks ahead as of around 28w; I'm just hoping that the size hasn't increased even more.

Since you've just been dx, make sure you really pay attention to your diet. It really can make a huge difference in most people, and I think very few actually end up on insulin.

[Liddle1]

I had gd and my baby was 9.5 pounds. however he got stuck because of the size of his head and that he was late, nothing to do with the gd :giggle:

just make sure you don't go hypoglycemic. i almost passed out driving a few times so make sure you always have a snack.

[Sarah0903]

I dont have GD (well, so far I dont). I didn't with my other two and they were good sized babies. I just wanted to come and give some hugs and offer support. :)

[jessicap]

I have GD as well. I actually was tested/diagnosed very early in pg, since this is pg #2 and last time I had it as well. I was able to manage it very well with diet up until about week 28 this time. My only problem was that my fasting #s are always too high (and can't be diet managed.) At about week 28, I went on Glyburide to try and control things. It helped, but over the past few weeks I've noticed the numbers climbing, and a couple weeks ago I went on insulin. Now I'm 32 weeks and my #s are continuously climbing, so it's all a game of upping the insulin to try and keep up. I'm getting a level 2 u/s on Monday to see what is happening w/ the baby. The specialist (MFM) reassured me that there is nothing I am doing wrong, that it is due to the hormones jumping up now, but I still feel a lot of guilt and shame over it.
I was measuring 3 weeks ahead as of around 28w; I'm just hoping that the size hasn't increased even more.

Since you've just been dx, make sure you really pay attention to your diet. It really can make a huge difference in most people, and I think very few actually end up on insulin.

So glad to know I am not the only one battling with my fasting sugars. It sucks doesn't it?! It feels like I should be able to do something to control it, but really it is just a guessing game to get the insulin to where it needs to be. I will have one great day and then the next day will be back to square one. I too was diagnosed early, 7 weeks and insulin dependent at 10 weeks.

To the original poster, GD can result in larger babes, but I was told that keeping things within guidelines as much as possible will help that babe come out decent sized and not too big. Keeping your blood sugars under control as much as you can is key because not only will out of control sugars result in a larger baby, but the baby can be born with low blood sugar as their pancreas is producing larger levels of insulin in the womb to combat your high blood sugar. When the baby is born and out of the womb, they are still producing those higher amounts of insulin even though it is not needed. Formula is not needed to regulate that blood sugar though, so don't let them tell you that. There are other ways of getting the blood sugar up in a low sugar babe. I was told that as long as the levels are not too low, that immediate breastfeeding with the colostrum will be effective in that. But if it is too too low, then sugar water will probably be given, and I will request that it be done by cup or syringe (given by mouth) so there is no introduction of artificial nipples.

[RetroBaby]

I've had it with my past 2 pregnancies. Had to be on insulin with both :yuck: Besides the insulin, the weekly non-stress tests starting at 30 weeks were pretty annoying. My sugars stayed okay with the strict diet and insulin.

My OB induces GD mamas from 39-40 weeks. DD was induced at 39 weeks and was 8lbs even. Labor was super easy, 3 hours and the OB didn't even make it in time to catch her. The super bummer, though, was at the hospital she was delivered at, they take away the GD babies for "observation" for 5 hours immediately after birth. :cry: I only got to hold her for about 3 seconds before she was whisked away and I cried buckets. She didn't have low blood sugar and was fine. :(

DS2 came on his own at 37.5 weeks. We had an induction date for 39 weeks exactly, but he had his own plans. During labor my blood sugar kept climbing and climbing despite the fact that I hadn't eaten all day and was taking insulin. He was born after 6 hours and weighed 8lbs 3oz. His blood sugar was very low (in the low 30's). This was a different hospital than DD, so he wasn't taken away despite the low blood sugar. He was by my side the whole time. He didn't want to nurse immediately after birth so he was given a bit of formula (from a bottle, eek!). This brought his blood sugar up, and he nursed well despite his first feeding being formula from a bottle (heck, he's still nursing @ age 2). His blood sugar stayed up and we left the hospital after 24 hours. :)

Because of the strict diet I only ended up gaining 5 lbs each time. So when the baby was born, I was already below pre-pregnancy weight. Bonus!

[Us4&AngelCorey]

Hi mama! I had gd with my last 3 pregnancies. I controlled it with the first 2 with diet and insulin. My babies were born normal size and healthy. With this little guy I didn't control it as well (guess I figured everything was really fine since my other 2 were fine) Well he was born three weeks early weighing 10 pounds 5 ounces and spent 5 days in the NICU with low blood sugar and jaundice. He's fine now though and toooooo sweet!

[mtchen79]

I had GD with my most recent pregnancy, but not with my first. I don't really have any risk factors and was diagnosed in the 3rd trimester. I controlled my blood sugar with diet and some exercise, no additional medication was needed. DD2 was born at 39w4d at 8.0 lbs. I had an ultrasound at 37 weeks to estimate the baby's weight, but no NSTs or anything else other than going to the endocrinologist once a month. The birth was pretty normal and when DD2 was born, I nursed her right away, she was never supplemented with sugar water or anything like that and her blood sugar readings were fine. Good luck!