Of course….. I have GD….. again

avivaAfter a 3 day wait I finally got the call to inform me that I do have Gestational Diabetes again this pregnancy.  I almost thought I didn’t this time.  I weight much less than my first pregnancy, and they said they would call back the next day.  I knew that could mean longer so I didn’t hold out much hope.

The nurse has already called in my old friends, my test strips.  I will be checking my blood sugars once a day, or maybe twice.  I like to check my fasting number everyday since that one is the hardest to control for me.

The practice I am with goes by a different diet than the one I used last time.  With Fletcher I was counting carbs.  I could have 30 for breakfast, 15 for snack, 45 for lunch, 15 for snack, and 45 for dinner.  That isn’t a lot.  A banana has 23 carbs just for reference.  Anything high in fiber is good because you can subtract the fiber number from the carb count.

This time I am on an 1,800 calorie diet and I have no idea what that means.  I meet with the nutritionist next week.  In the mean time I am sticking to what I know.  I will start checking sugars and hopefully I can keep my numbers under control as well as I did last time.

I expected this outcome but it doesn’t make the news any easier.  Up to now this has been the easiest pregnancy ever.  No morning sickness, no fatigue, no head aches, no extreme swelling (just a little in Texas but that is gone now), and no aches or pains.  I don’t even feel pregnant.  Now my pregnancy will rule every decision of the day.  Eating has to be on a schedule, or at least it should because that is easier to control.  If I crave an ice cream it is tough cookies.  And, once again my labor bag will include a yummy chocolate bar for after delivery.

The silver lining: My weight gain will level off.  I was shoveling in all of my favorite foods because I knew I was probably going to be cut off after my test.  I was right.  While I still haven’t gained as much as I did with my first, I have gained more than I would like.  I started out technically underweight so I use that as one excuse.  With this new diet I probably won’t gain more than another 5-8 pounds before delivery like last time in my third trimester.  I will live off of the fat stored in my thighs!

With a well controlled diet there is hardly any risk to the baby or me, so don’t worry.  I am now classified as “high risk” and will likely be having Non Stress Tests from here on out to check on Shrimpy.  I will also have another Sonogram or two to check the growth of the baby since GD causes larger babies when not controlled.  The placenta cannot process the sugars and they go straight to the baby and make them extra fat.  So instead of eating as I wish and having my body give the correct amounts to baby, I have to control my intake.

When I was told I had GD the first time I cried all day.  I was at work when I got the call.  I couldn’t keep from crying, then one of my kids came up to me and gave me a big hug.  I took a big girl pill until I got home and then became a shaking crying mess.  I thought it was the end of the world.  I had no idea what to expect.

This time I know what I am in for.  I knew before I got pregnant this was likely.  I interviewed midwives to ensure I would end up with one who would not induce simply because I had GD.  I will not be induced, I can’t do it again.

Everyone go eat a nice big chocolate chip cookie for me.  I have another 12-13 weeks until I can indulge again.  But ya know, it is totally worth it!

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