Amy at The Finer Things in Life was planning to host a labor day labor story link up. Her new little one came a little early and she is very busy right now. Life with three is super busy for me but I figured if she had time to write about her birth story less than a week after it happened then I could get to mine! I wanted to share my most recent labor story.
My first labor was 7 hours long, my second was 3 1/2 hours long. I wasn't sure what would happen this time.
Benjamin was due on June 25. Madeline has come on her due date and Owen was a week early, so I was hopeful that Benjamin would be on time, if not early. Due to my gestational diabetes I would not be allowed to go much past my due date. With the threat of induction looming I was crossing my fingers and walking a lot! Jon's birthday is June 16 and he was hopeful that he would not share it with our new little one....
On June 16th I woke up feeling fine. I took the kids out on some errands and out to play. I decided to add in a lunch at McDonalds for a small treat. I knew it was going to be a longer day since Jon had a job interview after work and would be home late. And I also knew with a new little one coming we wouldn't be able to do things like this again for awhile. It was a rainy day so we ate and then headed to the indoor play area for some running before going home for nap time.
Jon got home that evening and we had dinner. I had make chicken parmesian because it is his favorite and it was his birthday. I was feeling fine, no more braxton hicks than normal and no signs of labor. I cleaned up from dinner while Jon get the bath started and I had my first contraction. This was at 7 pm. I didn't believe it was real labor. I never do, maybe I will learn one day. I jokelingly asked Jon if he minded sharing his birthday. He asked me if I was serious and when I said I didn't know he told me yes I did, I don't have false labor. He decided to hurry the kids through their bath. I started pacing, unable to settle, and drank a LOT of water (which I later regretted) trying to determine if it was real or false. Three contratractions and 15 minutes later I knew it was real.
So Jon called my mom's cell phone. No answer. Okay, no big deal, she doesn't always have it on her at home. So he calls the house phone. No answer. We can still call my dad's cell phone, but at this point Jon is starting to think up a backup plan just in case. Luckily my dad answered. He and my mom were just pulling into their driveway. After Owen's birth we knew I could go quickly and it had been 20 minutes already so my dad got out to take care of their dogs and my mom drove over to our house. The live about 15 minutes away.
By this time I had called the doctor's calling service and had talked to the doctor on call (not my ob, but the same one who had delivered both Madeline and Owen, talk about coincidence). After being reminded this was my third and hearing that contractions were already five minutes apart I was told to head in.
My mom arrived, we took a carseat out of our car for her and we left. By the time we got to the hospital it was 8 and I had been in labor for 1 hour. The contractions were getting worse and back labor was starting, but they were still 5 minutes apart so I had some rest. We checked in and were sent in to be checked by a nurse before being admitted. I was given a gown and told to get changed. I needed to use the restroom (remember all the water I drank when I wasn't sure it was real labor? ) and then the nurse came in. She was asking all the normal questions kinda slowly then heard me have a contraction and things started to speed up. I was hooked up to a monitor (I hate this part becuase once I am hooked they won't unhook me!) and my iv was started (thank you group B strep). At this point I had not discounted an epidural (I had one with both #1 and #2) but I wasn't sure yet. I was checked and told I was 7cm. I was kind of disspointed. And before you yell at me, when I got the hospital with #2 I was 8.5 cm. So I was hoping for that again.
They wheeled me upstairs and I was left to labor. It was about 8:30 at this point. I was still having 2-3 minutes between contractions and my water had not yet broken. About an forty five minutes later I felt a lot of pressure. They checked me but I wasn't quite 10 so I was told to wait a while longer. They changed the bed so I could sit up which helped a LOT. I chose not to get the epidural because I thought I could make it.
30 minutes later my water broke. Jon called the nurses and they came in. I was ready to push but they told me to wait. WHAT!?!?! They wanted to change my gown. They said I would feel better. I said get the baby out of me and I will feel better. They also wanted to check me. My contractions were on top of each other at this point and I was ready. They were having trouble finding the doctor so a resident checked me. At this point all I wanted to do was push and I hated being told to wait.
Yup I was 10 and ready. 15 minutes later Benjamin was born. He was Benjamin as soon as I saw him, it was the name that fit. He was 7 lbs and 15.5 ounces. Three hours and fiftenn minutes after my first contraction. And he shares his daddy's birthday which Jon now thinks is awesome!
As soon as I was cleaned (no stitches!) I was nursing Benjamin. Then I was drinking my first real pepsi in 9 monhts. No more counting carbs or cutting sugar for me!
Benjamin was my quickest labor. If we have a fourth (still undecided) I worry and wonder about how quick it will be.
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Just Done
I am done. It needs to be the end of June now.
My pregnancy has not been awful, just long. I am so tired. My feet are swollen every day. I can't wear my wedding or engagement rings right now and I hate that! I have to watch everything I eat to make sure my blood sugars don't get too high. My back hurts. My hips hurt. I have heartburn from everything I eat. I am tired. I can't sleep well. It is hot and I have very little patience with my poor children. I feel like I cannot make plans for anything because I could have the baby now or three weeks from now.
Okay, I think I got it all out.
I feel a little bit better now. But I am seriously ready for the end of June. My doctor offered to induce me at 39 weeks, which would bring my due date to June 19 instead of June 25, due to my gestational diabetes. I don't really want to be induced, it is a personal preference. She is okay with that as long as the baby doesn't get to be too big. Right now they are thinking I will have a baby that is about 8 lbs 8 oz if I go full term. Well Owen was 8 lbs 2 oz so I can't see why an 8 lb 8 oz baby would surprise anyone! It doesn't scare me to have a "big" baby since mboth my deliveries have been fairly easy. I don't think anyone would worry about the size if it weren't for my gestational diabetes.
If this little one decides that he or she is ready to be born early I am fine with that. I hit 37 weeks tomorrow so anytime now is okay with me!
Jon's birthday is the 16th so I am concentrating on that for now.
My pregnancy has not been awful, just long. I am so tired. My feet are swollen every day. I can't wear my wedding or engagement rings right now and I hate that! I have to watch everything I eat to make sure my blood sugars don't get too high. My back hurts. My hips hurt. I have heartburn from everything I eat. I am tired. I can't sleep well. It is hot and I have very little patience with my poor children. I feel like I cannot make plans for anything because I could have the baby now or three weeks from now.
Okay, I think I got it all out.
I feel a little bit better now. But I am seriously ready for the end of June. My doctor offered to induce me at 39 weeks, which would bring my due date to June 19 instead of June 25, due to my gestational diabetes. I don't really want to be induced, it is a personal preference. She is okay with that as long as the baby doesn't get to be too big. Right now they are thinking I will have a baby that is about 8 lbs 8 oz if I go full term. Well Owen was 8 lbs 2 oz so I can't see why an 8 lb 8 oz baby would surprise anyone! It doesn't scare me to have a "big" baby since mboth my deliveries have been fairly easy. I don't think anyone would worry about the size if it weren't for my gestational diabetes.
If this little one decides that he or she is ready to be born early I am fine with that. I hit 37 weeks tomorrow so anytime now is okay with me!
Jon's birthday is the 16th so I am concentrating on that for now.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Bye Bye Bread
My gestational diabetes has taken another fun turn- my body no longer appreciates bread. I had a sandwich for lunch yesterday and had a blood sugar of 135. It is supposed to be under 120. So ouch! The day before a sandwich got me a 129 and the day before that a 125. I should have cut bread sooner but I was in denial.
See I love bread. I could live off of bread rolls and biscuits and sandwiches.
But that is all over for the next two months.
So this is my farewell to bread.
You will be missed. I will see you again in June.
And I may eat an entire loaf of bread for lunch the day this little one arrives.
And I will have no shame at all.
See I love bread. I could live off of bread rolls and biscuits and sandwiches.
But that is all over for the next two months.
So this is my farewell to bread.
You will be missed. I will see you again in June.
And I may eat an entire loaf of bread for lunch the day this little one arrives.
And I will have no shame at all.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Random Friday Evening
It is 10:30, I am exhausted but for some reason I am not in bed. My mind is all over the place. Some of the things spinning around it are:
*why is it that mother nature must tease us in New England? Yesterday it was 70 and sunny and today it is 50 and rainy. I am fine with 50 in April (it is more preferrable than the snow we have had in the past) but could you make up your mind already Mother Nature?
* how is it that 10 weeks can seem so long and so short at the same time? I hit 30 weeks today. That means in roughly 2 1/2 months we will be a family of five. My little Owen will not be my baby anymore. And I will be awake every 3 or so hours around the clock. AND I will finally get to meet my new little one and introduce Madeline and Owen to their new brother or sister! Can you tell my hormones are a little nutso?
*I am so glad that Jon is on vacation this week. Even though I know it won't be a vacation for me, it does mean a little extra help around the house and it forces me to slow down (not a bad thing) since Jon's approach to daily life and mine are very different at times.
*I am getting excited watching my garden grow indoors. Madeline is having a great time talking about how our plants are growing each day. Owen likes to look too but doesn't get as excited as Madeline and I do. With any luck I will be able to plant some of the sprouts outside this week before they take over my kitchen.
*My moods are so all over the place lately. One minute I am completly content with life and the next I am extremly frusterated over something.
*I think I have chose a new name for my blog. I am playing around with it a little more, but I feel like this is much more than living on one income. We are living on one income yes, but it isn't just living. We are enjoying living, creating happy memories for the kids, building our family all on 1 income. Stay tuned to see what I can come up with.
*We had a small scare with the baby this week. It turned out to be nothing (literally nothing) but it was a long day. I haven't told any family or friends about it because I *know* they will worry about me. In the end it was actually a little embarassing when we learned the reason for the scare.
*My blood sugar numbers are getting a little higher. Still within range but eating is going to get a little trickier. This is a sure sign I am well into the third trimester.
*It is almost 11, I am exhausted and I need to go to bed so why am I still writing?
I warned you that my thoughts were all over the place. Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it is drier than ours is supposed to be.
*why is it that mother nature must tease us in New England? Yesterday it was 70 and sunny and today it is 50 and rainy. I am fine with 50 in April (it is more preferrable than the snow we have had in the past) but could you make up your mind already Mother Nature?
* how is it that 10 weeks can seem so long and so short at the same time? I hit 30 weeks today. That means in roughly 2 1/2 months we will be a family of five. My little Owen will not be my baby anymore. And I will be awake every 3 or so hours around the clock. AND I will finally get to meet my new little one and introduce Madeline and Owen to their new brother or sister! Can you tell my hormones are a little nutso?
*I am so glad that Jon is on vacation this week. Even though I know it won't be a vacation for me, it does mean a little extra help around the house and it forces me to slow down (not a bad thing) since Jon's approach to daily life and mine are very different at times.
*I am getting excited watching my garden grow indoors. Madeline is having a great time talking about how our plants are growing each day. Owen likes to look too but doesn't get as excited as Madeline and I do. With any luck I will be able to plant some of the sprouts outside this week before they take over my kitchen.
*My moods are so all over the place lately. One minute I am completly content with life and the next I am extremly frusterated over something.
*I think I have chose a new name for my blog. I am playing around with it a little more, but I feel like this is much more than living on one income. We are living on one income yes, but it isn't just living. We are enjoying living, creating happy memories for the kids, building our family all on 1 income. Stay tuned to see what I can come up with.
*We had a small scare with the baby this week. It turned out to be nothing (literally nothing) but it was a long day. I haven't told any family or friends about it because I *know* they will worry about me. In the end it was actually a little embarassing when we learned the reason for the scare.
*My blood sugar numbers are getting a little higher. Still within range but eating is going to get a little trickier. This is a sure sign I am well into the third trimester.
*It is almost 11, I am exhausted and I need to go to bed so why am I still writing?
I warned you that my thoughts were all over the place. Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it is drier than ours is supposed to be.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
29 weeks down, 11 to go
I am almost at 30 weeks. Something about the number 30 makes me feel like I am almost done. Then I look at the calendar and see that it is April. And June just feels so far away.
Of course, since there is absolutely NOTHING done for baby #3 it is probably a good thing I have almost 3 months left. And when I say nothing I really mean it. The baby's bedroom is still the office. The closet in the nursery/office is packed with Tupperware products that I need to sort and decided which items to keep and which to give away or sell. Owen is still sleeping in the crib that the baby will need. The bed we need for Owen is two hours away at Jon's parents' house. The bassinett that we will use for the first few months is 2 hours away at Jon's parents' house. The clothes? They are all still packed away in neatly labeled boxes.
And here I sit typing away at my blog. So you can see how concerned I am.
We did do one thing this weekend. Jon took apart the stroller that we will use in and washed it really well. So that is done. And nothing else.
Next week Jon is on vacation. And you should see the list of honey do's I have for him! I haven't even shown him yet, but here are a few of the top items:
*build another garden box (nothing to do with the baby, but something that needs to be done) in the backyard so that I can start transferring my plants outside.
*run the cable wires to the playroom (former garage) so that we can move the office out to a corner of the playroom
*move computer, desk, bookshelf, and craft drawers out to the playroom
*insulate the walls to the playroom
*touch up paint in the nursery
*set up bed for Owen with bed rails when Jon's parents bring the bed out late next week
*help me rearrange our bedroom
*dig out boxes of 0-3 and 3-6 month sized clothing to wash and start putting away
*find boxes of newborn sized cloth diapers and wash and dry
That is just a start. I know I will be adding to the list. And we need to really get a good start on things since after this there are no more breaks before this baby is born. I really don't want to bring the baby home without at least having a bed, clean diapers and some clothes for him/her.
I just feel like I have such a long time left that there really isn't an urge in me to get things done. I mean, I am due at the end of June. That is summer! And they are predicting snow here this weekend so even talking about summer being soon feels odd. But I will kick my own butt into gear soon. I really think that if I make a list and plan things out with Jon we will get quite a bit accomplished. I am hopeful to that he can plan some of the messier things (climbing into the attic and insulating walls) for days that I can take the kids out somewhere. I still want us to have at least one famly day, preferrably two. In order for everything to happen and for us not to feel like we are cramming things in I need to figure out some kind of schedule. At the end of his vacation we are having the kids' birthday party. Since we invite many of the same people we decided to have their party together this year. And since Madeline is a March kid and Owen is a May kid April seemed like a good time to celebrate. And I picked the end of April vacation becuase I figured everyone would be around.
At least I can't complain that I am bored and have nothing to do!
Of course, since there is absolutely NOTHING done for baby #3 it is probably a good thing I have almost 3 months left. And when I say nothing I really mean it. The baby's bedroom is still the office. The closet in the nursery/office is packed with Tupperware products that I need to sort and decided which items to keep and which to give away or sell. Owen is still sleeping in the crib that the baby will need. The bed we need for Owen is two hours away at Jon's parents' house. The bassinett that we will use for the first few months is 2 hours away at Jon's parents' house. The clothes? They are all still packed away in neatly labeled boxes.
And here I sit typing away at my blog. So you can see how concerned I am.
We did do one thing this weekend. Jon took apart the stroller that we will use in and washed it really well. So that is done. And nothing else.
Next week Jon is on vacation. And you should see the list of honey do's I have for him! I haven't even shown him yet, but here are a few of the top items:
*build another garden box (nothing to do with the baby, but something that needs to be done) in the backyard so that I can start transferring my plants outside.
*run the cable wires to the playroom (former garage) so that we can move the office out to a corner of the playroom
*move computer, desk, bookshelf, and craft drawers out to the playroom
*insulate the walls to the playroom
*touch up paint in the nursery
*set up bed for Owen with bed rails when Jon's parents bring the bed out late next week
*help me rearrange our bedroom
*dig out boxes of 0-3 and 3-6 month sized clothing to wash and start putting away
*find boxes of newborn sized cloth diapers and wash and dry
That is just a start. I know I will be adding to the list. And we need to really get a good start on things since after this there are no more breaks before this baby is born. I really don't want to bring the baby home without at least having a bed, clean diapers and some clothes for him/her.
I just feel like I have such a long time left that there really isn't an urge in me to get things done. I mean, I am due at the end of June. That is summer! And they are predicting snow here this weekend so even talking about summer being soon feels odd. But I will kick my own butt into gear soon. I really think that if I make a list and plan things out with Jon we will get quite a bit accomplished. I am hopeful to that he can plan some of the messier things (climbing into the attic and insulating walls) for days that I can take the kids out somewhere. I still want us to have at least one famly day, preferrably two. In order for everything to happen and for us not to feel like we are cramming things in I need to figure out some kind of schedule. At the end of his vacation we are having the kids' birthday party. Since we invite many of the same people we decided to have their party together this year. And since Madeline is a March kid and Owen is a May kid April seemed like a good time to celebrate. And I picked the end of April vacation becuase I figured everyone would be around.
At least I can't complain that I am bored and have nothing to do!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Trying to do it all
It has been one of those days where I try to cram everything in even though I know deep down I cannot keep up.
I keep forgetting what 7 months pregnant is like. I swear I was at it full tilt until Owen was born and I know I worked full time until five days before Madeline was born. But with this one? I can barely work up the energy to sweep the kitchen some days. But does that stop me from planning on doing things? Or keep me from volunteering to cook Easter dinner? NO. And maybe I was more energetic with my first two pregnancies but I was younger (not that I am ancient by any means, but 4 years and two kids is 4 years and two kids...). Or maybe I choose to forget the aches and pains and the exhaustion so that I will try it all again.
I am sitting here right now putting off making dinner for tonight, cleaning the bathroom, getting an art project ready for the kids, making a list for the store tonight and checking on Owen to see why for the love of everything that is good won't the boy sleep because I pushed myself too much this morning and it pains me to walk. Literally, walking and standing are excruciating at the moment. I have a list a mile long of things that need to be done in the next few days, and even more immediatly this afternoon, that just won't happen unless this pain goes away. And it is my own fault.
I was in a lot of pain from falling on Sunday and Monday morning it didn't get much better. Luckily even though I had to work on Monday it was a quiet evening and I was able to just sit for four hours. By yesterday morning I was better. The pain was pretty much gone. Then for whatever reason I sat on one of our barstools last night to work on the computer for about 45 minutes. When I got down I could barely walk again. And woke up this morning feeling not much better.
Well what did I do today? I did all my normal chores (sweep, vaccuum, feed kids, empty dishwasher, letter and number time with Madeline) then took Madeline to the dentist where I proceeded to carry Owen because he wanted to be carried. We went to the grocery store and the dollar store and then came home. Did I rest then? No, I got ready for a playgroup I was hosting for 8 moms and 13 kids. I made 4 boxes of mac and cheese and got plates and stuff out. When people got here I did not sit, no I stood for the next 2 hours talking to friends. Why? Who knows!
So now it is 3 and I am dead tired. I have no one to blame but myself. Some of the things I did today were necessity- dentist, feed the kids, feed the dog, etc. But I could have cancelled the playgroup (heck I didn't even have to host in the first place.) I could have put off the store, I could have left the dishes for Jon to empty, he would have understood.
And will I stop now? Of course not. In about five minutes I will be washing dishes from lunch and making dinner plans.
I am not whining, or saying poor me. I make the choice to do a lot of things that are not necessary when I am not feeling well. I am just writing it all down to hopefully figure out why I do it. Am I the only one who thinks I can do everything? I know there are other mothesr like me who take on to much, don't say no when they can, don't want to have people help them. I HATE when poeple offer help because I am pregnant. I don't know why, I just want to be able to do it all.
Why am I like this? Maybe one of these days I will figure it all out.
I am off to do it all, and hopefully I'll still be able to walk tomorrow.
I keep forgetting what 7 months pregnant is like. I swear I was at it full tilt until Owen was born and I know I worked full time until five days before Madeline was born. But with this one? I can barely work up the energy to sweep the kitchen some days. But does that stop me from planning on doing things? Or keep me from volunteering to cook Easter dinner? NO. And maybe I was more energetic with my first two pregnancies but I was younger (not that I am ancient by any means, but 4 years and two kids is 4 years and two kids...). Or maybe I choose to forget the aches and pains and the exhaustion so that I will try it all again.
I am sitting here right now putting off making dinner for tonight, cleaning the bathroom, getting an art project ready for the kids, making a list for the store tonight and checking on Owen to see why for the love of everything that is good won't the boy sleep because I pushed myself too much this morning and it pains me to walk. Literally, walking and standing are excruciating at the moment. I have a list a mile long of things that need to be done in the next few days, and even more immediatly this afternoon, that just won't happen unless this pain goes away. And it is my own fault.
I was in a lot of pain from falling on Sunday and Monday morning it didn't get much better. Luckily even though I had to work on Monday it was a quiet evening and I was able to just sit for four hours. By yesterday morning I was better. The pain was pretty much gone. Then for whatever reason I sat on one of our barstools last night to work on the computer for about 45 minutes. When I got down I could barely walk again. And woke up this morning feeling not much better.
Well what did I do today? I did all my normal chores (sweep, vaccuum, feed kids, empty dishwasher, letter and number time with Madeline) then took Madeline to the dentist where I proceeded to carry Owen because he wanted to be carried. We went to the grocery store and the dollar store and then came home. Did I rest then? No, I got ready for a playgroup I was hosting for 8 moms and 13 kids. I made 4 boxes of mac and cheese and got plates and stuff out. When people got here I did not sit, no I stood for the next 2 hours talking to friends. Why? Who knows!
So now it is 3 and I am dead tired. I have no one to blame but myself. Some of the things I did today were necessity- dentist, feed the kids, feed the dog, etc. But I could have cancelled the playgroup (heck I didn't even have to host in the first place.) I could have put off the store, I could have left the dishes for Jon to empty, he would have understood.
And will I stop now? Of course not. In about five minutes I will be washing dishes from lunch and making dinner plans.
I am not whining, or saying poor me. I make the choice to do a lot of things that are not necessary when I am not feeling well. I am just writing it all down to hopefully figure out why I do it. Am I the only one who thinks I can do everything? I know there are other mothesr like me who take on to much, don't say no when they can, don't want to have people help them. I HATE when poeple offer help because I am pregnant. I don't know why, I just want to be able to do it all.
Why am I like this? Maybe one of these days I will figure it all out.
I am off to do it all, and hopefully I'll still be able to walk tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Gestational Diabetes
(word of warning, much of this post is me venting)
I have gestational diabetes. I have had it for all three of my pregnancies. It is a fact of life for me. However there are many many misconceptions about gd due (I think) in part to all the warnings about Type 2 Diabetes. You often hear that type 2 diabetes is reversable and that there are many things you can do to avoid developing it as well. Gestational Diabetes is NOT the same thing. I have been visiting a birth board for moms due on June like me. Many are getting ready to go through their glucose tolerance test (gtt). I read the posts about getting ready for the test and how to aviod being diagnosed with gd.
Here are the most common misconceptions I have heard:
1. gd is caused by eating a diet high in sugar and carbs
2. eating a gd diet is "eating healthy" and will help you be a healthier person
3. if you eat right when you have gd you will not need medication to control it
4. a gd diet is the same thing as a low carb or no carb diet.
5. fasting before the gtt will prevent you from being diagnosed with gd
6. gd ALWAYS results in big babies
I am sure there are more but these are the ones I come up against most frequently. Here are my responses to the incorrect assumptions:
1. First of all gd is not caused by eating to much sugary foods. Foods high in carbs elevate blood sugar levels but do not cause your body to be unable to produce enough insulin.
2. There is some truth to the fact that if you follow a gd diet it can be healthier. But that is not simply it. A gd diet can still be high in fat if you want it to be. Trust me I gained 50 lbs with Madeline and it didn't all come on before I was diagnosed with gd.
Added to that there is a lot of stress on the diet. You have to eat on a schedule in order to keep you blood sugar levels from dropping. It doesn't necessarily help you be a healthier person. You can eat perfectly healthy wihtout counting carbs at every meal and every snack. I eat fairly healthy when not pregnant. Plus there are a lot of foods with no sugar added, you can eat candy and junk food as a diabetic.
3. It is not a person's fault if their body needs medication to help with gd. I tried everything with pg #1 to diet and exercise control it. But I still ended up need medication. It was not my "fault" and I did nothing wrong to cause the need for medication. For me it was my fasting (overnight) number that I could not control. Many epople try everything they can to control their day numbers but still need insulin because their body simply does not produce enough insulin for them.
4. agd diet is NOT the same thing as a no carb or low carb diet. A no carb or low carb diet is being followed simply to lose weight. As a diabetic you NEED carbs. you cnanot simply cut back or out wihtout regard to how many you take in. Your body and baby still need the carbs, but it is about portion control.
5. Fasting before a gtt will not prevent a failing level if you are in fact gd. If you are not gd sometimes you can get a false reading. But if you are honestly gd no matter what you do your body will not correctly process the dugary drink and your blodd sugar levels will be high.
6. Gd does not always mean a big baby. First of all plenty of women without gd have larger babies. Just becuase a baby is big does not mean the mother had gd or that she didn't control it properly. I had gd and had babies on the bigger side but they were not nearly as big as the babies my sil had and she didn't have gd!
The misconception that I hate the most is that it is caused by something the mother is doing or has done. If you read the risk factors, you will see that some are lifestyle factors. But for MANY of us it is caused because we are pregnant. That is what it is called GESTATIONAL diabetes. One person commented on how much sugar foods I ate with my first pregnancy and how that may have caused my gd, because I gained so much weight so quickly. If that were the sole cause then I would not have developed it with my second pregnancy since I gained a lot less. The fact is that they have some ideas on what causes gestational diabetes, but for some women it is simply the pregnancy that causes it.
There are a lot of misconceptions about gd. Obviously I am not a medical expert. I have had three pregnancies now with gd. And I have two healthy children and another one on the way. So I am just speaking from experience and the reading I have done. If you want to learn more medical information about gestational diabetes you can try the following sites:
American Diabetes Association
Google Health
Babycenter
I have been trying to find books that someone who has had gd has written but I have been unsuccessful. If I were a writer I would attempt one, but since I am not hopefully someday somone will!
I have gestational diabetes. I have had it for all three of my pregnancies. It is a fact of life for me. However there are many many misconceptions about gd due (I think) in part to all the warnings about Type 2 Diabetes. You often hear that type 2 diabetes is reversable and that there are many things you can do to avoid developing it as well. Gestational Diabetes is NOT the same thing. I have been visiting a birth board for moms due on June like me. Many are getting ready to go through their glucose tolerance test (gtt). I read the posts about getting ready for the test and how to aviod being diagnosed with gd.
Here are the most common misconceptions I have heard:
1. gd is caused by eating a diet high in sugar and carbs
2. eating a gd diet is "eating healthy" and will help you be a healthier person
3. if you eat right when you have gd you will not need medication to control it
4. a gd diet is the same thing as a low carb or no carb diet.
5. fasting before the gtt will prevent you from being diagnosed with gd
6. gd ALWAYS results in big babies
I am sure there are more but these are the ones I come up against most frequently. Here are my responses to the incorrect assumptions:
1. First of all gd is not caused by eating to much sugary foods. Foods high in carbs elevate blood sugar levels but do not cause your body to be unable to produce enough insulin.
2. There is some truth to the fact that if you follow a gd diet it can be healthier. But that is not simply it. A gd diet can still be high in fat if you want it to be. Trust me I gained 50 lbs with Madeline and it didn't all come on before I was diagnosed with gd.
Added to that there is a lot of stress on the diet. You have to eat on a schedule in order to keep you blood sugar levels from dropping. It doesn't necessarily help you be a healthier person. You can eat perfectly healthy wihtout counting carbs at every meal and every snack. I eat fairly healthy when not pregnant. Plus there are a lot of foods with no sugar added, you can eat candy and junk food as a diabetic.
3. It is not a person's fault if their body needs medication to help with gd. I tried everything with pg #1 to diet and exercise control it. But I still ended up need medication. It was not my "fault" and I did nothing wrong to cause the need for medication. For me it was my fasting (overnight) number that I could not control. Many epople try everything they can to control their day numbers but still need insulin because their body simply does not produce enough insulin for them.
4. agd diet is NOT the same thing as a no carb or low carb diet. A no carb or low carb diet is being followed simply to lose weight. As a diabetic you NEED carbs. you cnanot simply cut back or out wihtout regard to how many you take in. Your body and baby still need the carbs, but it is about portion control.
5. Fasting before a gtt will not prevent a failing level if you are in fact gd. If you are not gd sometimes you can get a false reading. But if you are honestly gd no matter what you do your body will not correctly process the dugary drink and your blodd sugar levels will be high.
6. Gd does not always mean a big baby. First of all plenty of women without gd have larger babies. Just becuase a baby is big does not mean the mother had gd or that she didn't control it properly. I had gd and had babies on the bigger side but they were not nearly as big as the babies my sil had and she didn't have gd!
The misconception that I hate the most is that it is caused by something the mother is doing or has done. If you read the risk factors, you will see that some are lifestyle factors. But for MANY of us it is caused because we are pregnant. That is what it is called GESTATIONAL diabetes. One person commented on how much sugar foods I ate with my first pregnancy and how that may have caused my gd, because I gained so much weight so quickly. If that were the sole cause then I would not have developed it with my second pregnancy since I gained a lot less. The fact is that they have some ideas on what causes gestational diabetes, but for some women it is simply the pregnancy that causes it.
There are a lot of misconceptions about gd. Obviously I am not a medical expert. I have had three pregnancies now with gd. And I have two healthy children and another one on the way. So I am just speaking from experience and the reading I have done. If you want to learn more medical information about gestational diabetes you can try the following sites:
American Diabetes Association
Google Health
Babycenter
I have been trying to find books that someone who has had gd has written but I have been unsuccessful. If I were a writer I would attempt one, but since I am not hopefully someday somone will!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Pregnancy Update
I had my second doctor's appointment today. I can't believe it has been another month already. As of this Friday I will officially be in my second trimester. Bring on the energy!
My mother in law watched the kids so I could go alone today. I tried to get Jon to take part of the morning off and go with me after last's month stressful appointment. Even though I know in my heart that everything is okay (the growing belly helps me to know as well), I will still afriad to go today. But everything is going well. The appointment which lasted all of ten minutes (not a lot of questions to ask the third time around) had only one flaw. When my doctor went to find the heartbeat the little stinker was hiding. So she called for the portable ultrasound machine. And just as it arrived she found the heartbeat. On the very rightest side he/she could be on. I will say that those two minutes of looking were a long two minutes (especiallyafter last month's experience). My theory is that this kid is really going to keep me on my toes!
Thankfully I am pretty much eating normally again. I gained 1 of the 5 pounds that I lost back. So I am going in the right direction. It is so nice to have an appetite again. The gestational diabetes are being monitored and I am already giving up some of my favorite foods (good by ice cream and cookies...see you in June) and getting used to eating three small meals and three small snacks every day. Making sure I eat every two hours is realy important to keep my blood sugar levels normal. It is time to say good bye to normal clothes and hello to maternity again. Thank goodness for larger winter clothes, I was able to hold out this long!
It was a good start to the week!
My mother in law watched the kids so I could go alone today. I tried to get Jon to take part of the morning off and go with me after last's month stressful appointment. Even though I know in my heart that everything is okay (the growing belly helps me to know as well), I will still afriad to go today. But everything is going well. The appointment which lasted all of ten minutes (not a lot of questions to ask the third time around) had only one flaw. When my doctor went to find the heartbeat the little stinker was hiding. So she called for the portable ultrasound machine. And just as it arrived she found the heartbeat. On the very rightest side he/she could be on. I will say that those two minutes of looking were a long two minutes (especiallyafter last month's experience). My theory is that this kid is really going to keep me on my toes!
Thankfully I am pretty much eating normally again. I gained 1 of the 5 pounds that I lost back. So I am going in the right direction. It is so nice to have an appetite again. The gestational diabetes are being monitored and I am already giving up some of my favorite foods (good by ice cream and cookies...see you in June) and getting used to eating three small meals and three small snacks every day. Making sure I eat every two hours is realy important to keep my blood sugar levels normal. It is time to say good bye to normal clothes and hello to maternity again. Thank goodness for larger winter clothes, I was able to hold out this long!
It was a good start to the week!
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Waiting Game
I hate waiting. I really do. I am horrible when it gets close to the holidays or a birthday or a vacation and I start getting really excited. You'd think I would be used to waiting since I spend much of my life doing just that. As is the case when you have a three year old and a one year old who both like to be independent.
Jon and I have officially started trying for another baby. This is the first month.
I tested the other day and got a negative. Okay so it was the day I was due to start. But I remind you that I hate waiting.
I am okay with it. Sad yes. But okay. It is weird for me because I got pregnant on the first try with both M and O. I was very lucky in both cases, a little surprised the first time, but still very lucky! I am not 25 anymore and I just went off birth control so that will effect this try I assume.
But now I am three days late.
I am getting ready to test again wondering if maybe I tested to early? I also used a dollar store test and have never done that before.
I would be ecstatic to be pregnant (scared and ecstatic). And I am okay if it takes another month or two.
But honestly, could I just get the official sign that I am not or get a positive in the test already?
Yes I am impatient. But I told you, I hate waiting.
*Update* It is official I am not pregnant. I am sadder than I had expected. I tried to prepare myself, but this is the first time it hasn't happened right when I wanted. Do I sound whiny and ungrateful or what? Anyway, the bright spot is I know we can start trying again!
Jon and I have officially started trying for another baby. This is the first month.
I tested the other day and got a negative. Okay so it was the day I was due to start. But I remind you that I hate waiting.
I am okay with it. Sad yes. But okay. It is weird for me because I got pregnant on the first try with both M and O. I was very lucky in both cases, a little surprised the first time, but still very lucky! I am not 25 anymore and I just went off birth control so that will effect this try I assume.
But now I am three days late.
I am getting ready to test again wondering if maybe I tested to early? I also used a dollar store test and have never done that before.
I would be ecstatic to be pregnant (scared and ecstatic). And I am okay if it takes another month or two.
But honestly, could I just get the official sign that I am not or get a positive in the test already?
Yes I am impatient. But I told you, I hate waiting.
*Update* It is official I am not pregnant. I am sadder than I had expected. I tried to prepare myself, but this is the first time it hasn't happened right when I wanted. Do I sound whiny and ungrateful or what? Anyway, the bright spot is I know we can start trying again!
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