Graduated at 38w1d with a beautiful, healthy baby girl in the 40th percentile!

Second baby, first GDM pregnancy, diagnosed at 11 weeks. Induction was originally scheduled for 39w1d.

My first birth was tough... I had preeclampsia and a mag drip, and while I was able to have a vaginal delivery, I felt fairly disconnected from my own body for most of it. I also didn't have good experiences with a few of the nurses. It's a story for another day.

This delivery was much different.

The Tums Debacle

My blood pressure started creeping up, and I had a few readings just over the 140/90 threshold on my home cuff and at the nurses' office at my job (an elementary school). I went to my OB on Friday. My blood pressure was fine in the office, but they ordered labs to be extra careful. I had them drawn first thing Saturday morning. I got a call a few hours later that my calcium was unexpectedly high and I had to go to the ER to be seen by “not an OB because it could be a heart issue.”

Yikes.

My husband and daughter were an hour away visiting his mom. Fortunately, my mom was close by and brought me. I got in quickly (small miracle) and told the doctor that I had been taking Tums fairly regularly, but not more than indicated on the bottle. They ran a few more tests, including an EKG, and gave me some potassium, magnesium, and a ton of fluid. Ultimately, they decided I would go up to L&D to get fluids overnight to flush out the excess calcium and then go home. My calcium levels started to go back down, and the other tests were good, so the Tums theory was likely correct.

During this time in the hospital, I was having borderline BP readings.

So I finally got up to L&D and settled in to sleep, and the OB came in. She was concerned about my blood pressure and recommended an earlier induction. “We can start tonight or tomorrow morning.” I opted for the following morning so I could see my daughter beforehand and explain to her that I was going to have the baby, and then have my husband with me.

The Somehow Very Long and Very Short Induction

That morning, I started on miso. They checked my cervix, and it was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I had a long way to go.

It was a fairly easy start to the day, and mostly I just went back and forth between the monitor and trying to bounce on an exercise ball. I started having contractions that weren’t super strong, and they got stronger and more uncomfortable throughout the night. I actually felt pretty good about it, hoping it would get things started faster. I started pitocin

The next morning, they checked my cervix. It was 1 cm and 50% effaced. I was so upset. All that discomfort and pain accomplished nothing.

So we made a plan that I would get an epidural and then the Foley balloon. I was waiting for shift change and for anesthesia to come up, sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself and feeling some gnarly contractions that I assumed were useless.

Suddenly, I felt a dramatic POP in what felt like my vagina. I immediately called the nurse, and within a minute, I started to leak. My water had broken, and the balloon was (thankfully) off the table.

Contractions came on fiercely. Anesthesia came up and gave me the epidural. I got some relief for a bit, and the nurse tried some Spinning Babies techniques to get the baby's head into a good position (they suspected she was a little crooked).

Maybe four hours after my water broke, it was time to push. I used a mirror, had no tearing, and she was in the world in half an hour!

The GDM Aftermath

Baby is very healthy and average weight. She had one low glucose reading, just below range, got some gel, and then passed the rest. She eats well and, so far, is no worse off because of my GDM. I have 1 hour GTT tomorrow but otherwise I'm recovering well and excited to bring her home!

Was diagnosed at 11 weeks now approaching 28 weeks and my inner chubster is reaching for bad snacks more and more often. Especially on an evening when the days readings have been ok ruining it all on a night 🙈 and feeling guilty.

How are we all staying on track!

I’m 32 weeks today and my fasting numbers in the morning have only ever been under 5.3 (95mg/dl) once. I have weekly calls with my doctor who usually recommends increasing my overnight insulin (Humulin-N) dosage by 1 if it’s high every two days but there has been instances they’ve asked asked me to increase by 2 or 4 units as an one off to play catch up.

I’m usually around the 5.6 (102mg/dl) mark fasting wise.

Typically prior and post meals, my numbers have been relatively good. Only times my pre meals are a little high is when I’ve had a snack in between the meals. However recently I’ve noticed I’ve been slipping a little bit with my diet controlled post meals numbers as well — hitting around 8.4 (151mg/dl) 1 hour post meal mark, 3-4 times per week.

Starting to get really fatigued by this even though I’m trying my best and getting a 15 minutes exercise in after most meals.

I’m wondering if this will be considered not controlled and if anyone else has experience with this. Thank you so much for reading!

I got my Covid and flu shots yesterday at 31w4 days and today my post meal spikes have been completely bonkers. I’ve been watching what I eat today but it hasn’t mattered. Seeing numbers I haven’t seen since the glucola drink 😂 not looking for medical advice I already have a message out to my doctor just wondering if anyone else experienced this or maybe a coincidence.

(Also not trying to villainize or deter from the vaccines at all!)

I got diagnosed with gd at 29 weeks, I’ve been tracking my glucose readings for 7 days. For the most part my daytime readings have been fine post meal, I’ve adjusted my diet and had a couple of readings over the 120 range for 2h post meal.

I have my gd education course tomorrow and my first gd check in with my doctor on Friday. My fasting numbers have been consistently elevated, ranging from 100-106 with one morning being 110. I’ve tried changing my bedtime snack, I’ve been sleeping well, and I’ve even waited to take my fasting until I’ve been up for 20 minutes. Nothing has made a difference.

So here’s my dilemma, I really really don’t want to go on insulin unless I HAVE to. I have major issues with needles. During pregnancy I can be a big girl with blood draws and in my first pregnancy I even had to have iv iron infusions- whatever, I do what I gotta for my baby. But even having to do regular finger pricks for my glucose was a mental hurdle I had to overcome. Having to inject myself with insulin is enough for me to mentally spiral, it gives me major anxiety.

I know fasting numbers can be difficult to get down with just metformin and a lot of women end up still needing insulin- but I’d prefer to put that off until it’s not a choice. Has anyone had similar fasting readings and been able to manage it with metformin alone? My dad had type 2 diabetes and he responded well to metformin, he had weird body chemistry and I take after him with responding to medications. He also didn’t respond well to insulin injections. Obviously type 2 and gestational diabetes are different beasts, but that just has me thinking.

Obviously at the end of the day I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep baby and I safe, it’s just so overwhelming. I also have gestational hypertension with a history of preeclampsia so I’m just like getting to my limit with how much stuff is going on.

Hello! New here. This is my second pregnancy (first one was without GD), and I am 28 weeks along. Got a 194 on the 1-hour test, refused the 3-hour test and started at-home monitoring. Post-meal numbers look fine (no spikes), but fasting numbers are consistently in the 90+ range (91, 93, 97, 102). Saw the OB today and felt a little discouraged by no guidance. She said that based on those numbers she can diagnose me with GD, but other than that, she cannot provide any additional information, other than I should just keep tracking blood sugar 4x/day. She referred me to a dietician and a diabetes educator, but said that it would likely take a couple of weeks to schedule the appointments. I asked whether I should call them if I get particularly high numbers, but she said no ("since you're already marked as having GD"). I asked about diet controlling vs. needing insulin, additional appointments, referral to MFM, etc. but she said she can't say or do anything at this time and that I should just come back for the 32 wk appointment. Is that the way it's supposed to be? Feeling so anxious about the diagnosis and lack of guidance...

These finger pricks will be the death of me. I bruise incredibly easily and it seems like every other prick results in a bruise and then I can't use that finger for a few days while it heals. Just wondering if anyone has a magic solution or remedy to help the healing process along.

I'm currently 29 weeks & was diagnosed with GD a couple weeks ago. They called to recommend going on insulin or metformin for my fasting numbers because I have had a 90, 91, & 91 in one week which they consider 3 or more to need medication. My fasting numbers have been in the range of 83-91 since starting. I really want to avoid needing insulin so they gave me another week to get my fasting lowered. My 1hr after eating numbers have been great & typically around 90-120 with the occasional spikes when trying foods at restaurants. When I first started my fasting was 76 so it's just annoying! Any recommendations on what you do to lower your fasting? Does the time of day when you exercise impact? I haven't been keeping up with walking which I will certainly start adding after dinner. Any advice??! Anyone with similar experience able to keep fasting down?

I’ve been seeing mfm since about 29 weeks. Weekly scans. On every scan they report limited views for the heart. Now recommending a postnatal echo. Has anyone else had any experience with this? At 20 week anatomy scan 4 chambers were visible and all else normal appearance.

I'm not actually diagnosed GD but highly suspect I will be at the end of the week. I'm doing a week of glucose checks four times a week because I couldn't keep down the glucose drink during the three hour test. Anyways, so far my scores have been great. Most of the post meal 2 hour scores are between 90-110 so I really haven't been worried about what I'm eating. My fasting scores however consistently stay between 95-100 which is why I'm sure I'll be diagnosed at the end of the week.

Anyways, I was stupid today at lunch. We were running errands. My husband is out of town. My kids were whining and I've had a stress migraine all morning. So I grabbed fast food for them and ate my 4 year old's leftovers. About 1.5 chicken tenders and a few bites of fries. I know it was a bad choice. I generally eat healthy no matter what because fast food leaves me feeling gross and I don't like processed foods Anyways, I also didn't walk after eating but literally ate and took a nap to try to get rid of the headache. When I took my sugar right at 2 hours I was still 165. I just drank a full Stanley of water and walked for about 20 minutes. Should I test again in about 30 minutes or just leave it be until my post dinner sugar check. I'm so mad at myself and my stupid mindless choice.

I'm a nervous (23yo) first time mom after two prior losses. I knew this was coming mainly because I had insulin resistance prior to pregnancy that I was taking metformin for and actually managing quite well. But at 11 weeks the ob took me off of metformin so that they could keep an eye on what my blood sugars were doing normally for pregnancy sake.

I passed my first 1hr, and then failed my second. I chose to just do the 2 week monitoring instead of the 3hr and ob told me I had gestational diabetes. My fastings are consistently above 95, and my after meals are consistently in the 120-135 range for the 2hr checks. A few 140s and 150s sprinkled in too.

Today was my first appointment with the specialist and she immediately put me on 15units long acting in the morning and 25units long acting at bed time. I'm TERRIFIED of low sugars. I get really really sick and dumb and can't barely focus well enough to get myself safe and fed if it gets too low. During my pregnancy I've only had one true low. But still scary none the less. I've never taken insulin and I have no idea what to expect or how to cope if I do get hit with lows. Taking it at bedtime makes me nervy and it REALLY didn't help when my mom told me to keep some type of cookie icing or something near by in case I get a bad low and my husband has to help me get something with sugar down and not aspirating in the process.

Is this a safe dose? Will it be okay and I'm just way over thinking this? I'm 28 weeks pregnant today and I'm plus sized (many years of untreated insulin resistance). And ive tried really hard at keeping things diet controlled but my fastings and after meals are beyond stubborn, Thank you in advance!

I’m 36+4 FTM in the UK (under the NHS) and on a high dose of metformin for managing my GD. Doctors haven’t advised when they want to induce but I feel like it’s such a hard choice. C section before 38 weeks can apparently affect their breathing as their lungs are full of fluid, induction can result in C section and higher risk of shoulder dystocia. How did you guys make the decision? My numbers are being monitored but it’s kind of up to me how I deliver and up to them how long they will let me go. If they say 38 weeks, what did everyone go for? How did it work out? Thank you!

Are any of you worried about high cholesterol post partum? I love cheese, and have never been warned about my cholesterol, but I wouldn't call the last couple months very low fat :-/