Gestational Diabetes

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My wife had GD with both of our kids. It wasn't picked up until the last month with the first and he was a c-section under GA on his due date and was 10lb 4oz. He is a very active 2 1/2 yr old now. I was luckly and I saw the whole operation in the theatre. He did come out with a very low Apgar score (1) as my wife had to have 2 lots of GA.

GD was picked up a lot earlier with the second baby. We 3 times a week checks and scans every other week. She came as a c-section under GA at 37+2 at 9lb 8oz. The baby had to go to SCBU for a day whilst they monitored her blood sugars every hour. She is a healthy 9 week old now. Too healthy at 2 am!!!!

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Oh nearly forgot my money saving tip. Be care not to but too many newborn clothes as our first didn't fit them from day 1 and the second just fitted them.

We bought loads for the 1st and then washed them - of course we couldn't take them back.

Plumpud_3

I have to go for the GTT test at 28 weeks. I understand that all pregnant women will have this test at 28 weeks, under NICE guidelines. Currently you only get screened if you are high risk. Over 35, or history of any diabetes in your close family, or you had diabetes during a previous pregnancy, or you are very overweight, or it is your 3rd or more pregnancy, or you scan shows a larger baby, or you are showing classic symptoms of diabetes.

Because the sugar isn't processed properly by the body, it fattens up the baby, leading to large babies, which in turn leads to a much higher risk of complications and intervention. You are also at a much higher risk of gestational diabetes in any later pregnancies, and developing diabetes later in life.

The control of diabetes in pregnancy is the same as the control of ordinary diabetes (typeII). With gestational diabetes, it usually disappears shortly after you've had the baby. In a very small amount of cases, the diabetes doesn't go.

Diabetes very often goes hand in hand with high blood pressure.

The medical profession on the whole, think that the increase in diabetes (both normal and gestational) is linked to the change in our diet over the last 30 or so years.

It should be closely monitored as it does have some nasty complications.

trafalgar_2

Thank you all ,lots of useful information in the above posts

Caterina

Hi Traf

Just a thought: when I trained to be a birth doula with dr Michel Odent, he said that gestational diabetes is not really a disease but just a stage of pregnancy. I tried to look at internet references but could only find this quote:

So "gestational diabetes" would not be presented as a disease, but a transitory response - the baby is sending a message, via the placenta, to the mother, to receive more sugar. The recommendation to avoid refined sugars and eat more complex carbohydrates should be given to all pregnant women anyway.

It really does not tell much I am afraid...

If you want me to find out more about this fairly controversial view, I can contact him via a colleague of mine who deals with his courses. Please let me know.

Meanwhile, best wishes to your daughter,

Love

Caterina

trafalgar_2

aw thanks caterina,I think I have enough info for now but I'll let you know if you can help further

Thank you

lazylins

i had gestational diabetes with my second baby. i ahd to inject insulin for it as i was on steroids to treat my ulcerative colitis, any way

i worried and worried about the birth and wanted a ceasarian, i was told things will be fine and was induced at 37 weeks and had a 9lb baby,

all is fine and happy but he did go into the hospital special care unit to be warmed up and monitored, just overnight.

i now have an impared glucose tolerance due to this and have been warned i will develop diabetes in a few years if i dont sort my diet out(woops)

but everyones experiances are different and your daughter and her baby will be fine, just maybe baby will be a little chubby but i also agree not to buy too many new born clothes, i did and nothing fitted him he had to have 0-3 months

i hope eveythings fine for all of you when the time comes and good luck, it will be perfect

trafalgar_2

aww thanks Lazylins