Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I failed my 1 hour by 40 points, I know a lot of people fail and then pass the 3 hour (I have that tomorrow) but I am just so upset at the possibility that I have GD.

I started out this PG around 15-20 lbs above what I would want to be. After a big gain one month I really took a look at what I was eating and tried to make better choices. 95% of what I eat is whole wheat, I don't really have a sweet tooth, and I walk at least 2-3 times a week.

If I do have GD I am completely ready to do whatever I need to do to keep it in control- I am not worried about me at all- I am worried about the baby!

If anyone here has or had GD- did changing your diet help keep it in control? Did you HAVE to have a c-section? If you managed it throughout your pregnancy was it still possible to have a vaginal birth?

Thanks

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

i had gd with my first dc and i was able to control it with diet ( i had barely failed), and had a vaginal birth..never heard that bc you had gd you couldnt have one..hth

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Try not to blame yourself or feel like it is because you aren't doing the right things for your little one.

I have been able to control my blood sugar with my diet, but I am borderline GD. I don't eat any white flour (except for a cheat here and there), no sweets, limited fruit, and a lot of protein.

But, my doc did tell me that there is only so much that I can do. It really just depends on how your body reacts to the pregnancy. Some people need to go on meds to keep it in check, but if that is what keeps you and the baby healthy, then that is how it needs to be, right?

Don't stress about it too much. Lots of people have GD and have very healthy pregnancies. I actually have really kept my weight in check because of the diet, so that is a good thing!

GL with the 3 hour!

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I had gd with both of my pregnancies, i was able to control my numbers with diet. I was in a normal weight range when I got pregnant and I was not able to exercise because of other issues. I did lose weight once I had to go on the gd diet, but the doc was not concerned, as long as baby was developing normally. I had to go in every week for about an hour to monitor the baby's heart beat. Everything turned out okay. I also gave birth vaginally to both children. Diabetes runs in my family.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I had GD that was controlled by diet. I worked with a nutritionist that gave me guidelines for food. For instance, she helped me realize I couldn't have milk products at night because my levels would be high in the morning. I ate lots of vegetables and was able to have 3 meals and 2 snacks. Tested my blood 4 times a day and kept track of my levels and meals.
With GD, they don't want the baby going much past your due date. So I had an induction on my due date and then had a c-section because my daughter was "sunny side up" and my labor was not progressing, not because I had GD.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Thanks ladies, your responses really make me feel better!

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

This is my first, but I do have GD. I'm 33 weeks so for the past 6 weeks I have been controlling it with diet and to be honest, despite the fact that I was devestated about having GD, it really hasn't been that bad.

The further you get in your pregnancy the worse the GD gets and the harder it is to control with diet... or so they tell me, but so far it's been pretty consistent. They did just put me on Glyburide to help me with my fasting numbers which after a few higher readings they anticipate to be a problem. My Dr's office likes to avoid insulin at all costs.

I did speak to them about delivery, the babies birth weight, and c-sections. They told me that with GD patients they don't like them to go much further after their due date (if they haven't gone already)... so I'm due Aug 29, they will not let me get out of August pregnant. They also said depending on the estimated weight of the baby is whether they'll decide if I should have a c-section or not (for GD patients, they're cutoff for vaginal delivery is 8lbs 14oz)... but my baby is also breeched, so if he doesn't turn on his own, c-section for me. I expressed concern for the baby's size and they said that as long as I control the GD the baby should be fine and that the GD isn't the onlly determining factor on the baby's size... you also have to look at the parents and their size and how big they were when they were born (I also had a growth sono and the tech said we're right on target to deliver a healthy 7-8lb baby).

Good luck! I hope you don't have to deal with GD, but just remembe that if you do, it's not as bad as you think it's going to be

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Posted by KGools

This is my first, but I do have GD. I'm 33 weeks so for the past 6 weeks I have been controlling it with diet and to be honest, despite the fact that I was devestated about having GD, it really hasn't been that bad.

The further you get in your pregnancy the worse the GD gets and the harder it is to control with diet... or so they tell me, but so far it's been pretty consistent. They did just put me on Glyburide to help me with my fasting numbers which after a few higher readings they anticipate to be a problem. My Dr's office likes to avoid insulin at all costs.

I did speak to them about delivery, the babies birth weight, and c-sections. They told me that with GD patients they don't like them to go much further after their due date (if they haven't gone already)... so I'm due Aug 29, they will not let me get out of August pregnant. They also said depending on the estimated weight of the baby is whether they'll decide if I should have a c-section or not (for GD patients, they're cutoff for vaginal delivery is 8lbs 14oz)... but my baby is also breeched, so if he doesn't turn on his own, c-section for me. I expressed concern for the baby's size and they said that as long as I control the GD the baby should be fine and that the GD isn't the onlly determining factor on the baby's size... you also have to look at the parents and their size and how big they were when they were born (I also had a growth sono and the tech said we're right on target to deliver a healthy 7-8lb baby).

Good luck! I hope you don't have to deal with GD, but just remembe that if you do, it's not as bad as you think it's going to be

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I was diagnosed with GD at 20 weeks and was devastated. I felt like my body failed me, I was terrified of having to prick myself with needles 4x a day, and most of all, I was so worried that I would end up having a c-section when I had my heart set on having a vaginal, drug-free delivery.

I was lucky. I was able to keep my numbers low by just modifying my diet. The diet itself was not as restrictive as I thought it would be and I even allowed myself to cheat a few times for weddings, holidays, etc. Testing my blood every day ended up not being even a fraction as painful as I thought it was going to be and wound up becoming second nature. On a positive note, I didn't gain any weight from the time I was diagnosed until I delivered so I ended up only gaining 13 lbs total throughout my whole pregnancy!

Once I hit 35 weeks, I started having to go to the OB for monitoring every week. The sonos put DC in the 75% percentile for weight and my OB hinted towards a c-section because the baby was measuring about 8lbs at 37 weeks. I was so upset. Three weeks later I delivered a healthy 7lb 7oz baby boy vaginally!

I know how you are feeling right now, I was in your shoes less than a year ago. If you have ANY questions or want to talk, FM me anytime.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I failed the first one I took when I had my DS...and never made it past the drink portion of the 3 hour, b/c I fainted in the bloodlab...

I saw a nutritionist and followed my diet to a "T" and exercised. I gained 18 pounds and my son was almost 9 lbs a week early.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I had GD when I was pregnant with my DD. I was VERY strict with my diet but my sugars were still all over the place. I ended up on insulin 4X/day. (it wasn't that bad.....more annoying than anything else). I ended up with a C-section because they insisted my DD would be over 10lbs but in actuality, I could've delivered her...........she was only 8lbs 8oz. She was born healthy with NO complications whatsoever from my GD. As soon as she was born my GD was gone.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I had GD with my first pregnancy and was able to control it with diet alone.

I did have to go on a half dose of glyubride to control my fasting numbers, but it wasn't bad as it was a half a pill with my evening snack.

In all honestly, it's more of an annoyance than anything else. If you have GD, it's really just a short period of time in the grand scheme of things and is gone when you deliver the baby.

I did not have to have a c-section. In fact, my OB told me they try to avoide c-sections with GD mommies due to the fact there can be complications with healing. Rather, not complications, but because of the GD, it takes longer for the incision to heal.

However, with that said, my OB practice induces GD mommies at 39 weeks. I had a VERY easy induction/labor and delivery. From the time they broke my water and started the pitocin until the time my DD was born was less than 6 hours. I only pushed for 40 minutes.

ETA: I was also told my DD would be big, but she was born at 6lbs 11oz

Good luck!!!

Message edited 7/14/2010 8:38:29 PM.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Thank you everyone, I will keep you updated!

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I had GD with one of my pregnancies (failed the 1 hr with my other but passed the 3 hour) and too early to tell this time around but hoping I don't. I know so many people who failed the 1 hour but very few who failed the 3 hour and very few who had GD so don't stress it. Anyway, when I had GD - it was totally controlled by diet alone to a level so low they thought maybe I didn't have it. The diet was a pain for me but it was only a couple months so you suck it up and do it. I did not have a c section. My son was 7lbs and 3 weeks early (my water broke - so not induced or anything).

Good Luck!

Message edited 7/14/2010 9:17:15 PM.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Don't worry you and the baby will be compeltely fine. I had GD with my 1st pregnancy. I failed the 1 hour miserably so didn't even need to take the 3 hour. The nutritionist I had was helpful and really layed out a great meal plan for me and gave me a lot of good ideas for meals. I was able to control my #'s by diet up until 33 weeks. My morning fasting number was the only thing I couldn't control at that point so they put me on meds for it and they worked right away. It gets harder to control the further along you are with the pregnancy. It's really more of a pain in the butt pricking your finger etc more than anything else. I'm probably not the average GD case but at 33 wks the GD caused my amniotic fluid to increase a lot and it led me into preterm labor. Long story short I had a emergency c-section at 36 weeks and delivered a very healthy baby boy and he did not need to go into the NICU.

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

my sister had GD with her second pregnancy. See delivered vaginally for both (1st, non-GD was 8.5, 2nd, GD was 7.5)

She only used diet to control it, she was not overweight and gained average weight. It was totally normal, except controlling her diet (she could not exercise b/c of knee issues)

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

I have GD now with my 1st pregnancy. It's more of a nuisance than anything else. I didn't have to make too many lifestyle changes and it actually made me more aware of how I am eating.

I check my blood sugar levels 4x a day and I also inject insulin at night. I am such a baby and was scared of any kind of injections but it really isn't a big deal. I barely feel it.

Good luck to you! Keep in mind that most who fail the 1 hr pass the 3 hr!

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

sweety - i'm not going to sugar coat it - you failed by a lot. i did too...my nurse was laughing when i said, 'at least i failed with GUSTO'...

i had GD. like you - i was petrified for my baby...couldn't care less about me. i was way more than 15-20 pounds overweight when i got pregnant as well...

i went to a nutritionist, got support from some of the AMAZING women on this board and started my diet plan. I have to say that i learned A LOT about how our bodies' process foods, etc...

throughout my pregnancy, i gained i think it was 4-7 pounds (i don't remember how much total - but it was less than 10). i actually LOST weight at some of my doc appointments, because i had never eaten so healthy in my life.

i did NOT have to go on meds, i did NOT have to have a c-section, i was induced and wound up having a c-section, but it was because Em had her head tilted to the side and she was blocking her way out of me..but the c-section factor had nothing to do with the GD. I was induced because of it, but they fully expected me to delivery vaginally.

As for Emma's health - she was JUST FINE and even though we were told that she'd be in the NICU when she came out (because of my GD)....she did NOT have to go there. They tested her and she was fine and went into the 'regular' nursery.

if you have ANY questions, i will be happy to share info with you, just ask! i started the GD thread - look for that - there are a lot of great tips in there!

Re: Anyone here have or ever had GD? (BTDT Welcome)

Posted by davenjess

sweety - i'm not going to sugar coat it - you failed by a lot. i did too...my nurse was laughing when i said, 'at least i failed with GUSTO'...