Gestational Diabetes: Fact and Fiction

Gestational Diabetes Testing

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• What do you know about gestational diabetes testing?
• It was a test I must have or my baby might have problems
• If I test positive I will have more interventions
• If I am gestational diabetic I will have a big baby

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You can vote for more than one answer.

Pregnancy can be a time when it can feel like there are so many tests just looking for what is wrong. The fact is there are tests that are used routinely in both OB and midwifery practices. Here a key to remember about this particular test.

If you choose to do the test, what will the information support you to do or change in your life? I like to tell clients that pregnancy may bring to the surface a weaker link in your health. This is the GOOD NEWS! 🤓

It means you now have information to help create changes in your life to better your health not just for the pregnancy, also in parenting and ultimatly in your future life too. Here's a secret 🤫 What you do in pregnancy to improve your health, it actually helps your baby's health to, for a lifetime of happy living. Its why Natural Childbirth 101 was created. To help give you education not just for birth, it includes pregnancy to help you take a proactive approach with practical tools so you can prevent complications and surgery during your birth. You want this right? Lets dive in.

Here is what "gestational diabetese" is all about and how you can take control over it and support your desire for an empowering birth.

Gestational Diabetes is tested in pregnancy at around 24 weeks of pregnancy by having you drink a 50-100gram sugar drink and having your blood tested before and 1 hours after you drink it.

With all tests and ultrasounds in pregnancy, ask yourself a question before agreeing to be tested or scanned. Q: Will this test or scan improve the outcome for myself or my baby?

Testing Options

Some tests in pregnancy are routinely done regardless of your individual health and history. You have options for testing and here are some options for you to consider:

1. Drink the regular sugar drink they give you and be tested as per routine

2. Drink the Fresh Test instead which does not have the artificial colors or foods in it and it still will ensure the accuracy of the test.

3. Decline the test and opt for home monitoring: Test your blood sugar first thing in the morning before eating, again 1 hours after each main meal of the day. Keep track of your numbers as well as what you eat and drink for a week. As long as your fasting numbers are 70-90 and your 1 hour after meals are below 140 you are doing well.

4. Decline testing all together and focus on healthy eating habits with no juice, soda and keeping sweets to one night a week, using sprouted breads, avoiding cereal at night and minimal rice or pasta, use whole foods vs processed foods. Avoid potatoes as they are the highest veggie on the glycemic index.

5. Substitute Quinoa for rice and cauliflower/ spaghetti squash for pasta.

   
   

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes ( GD) other than testing is:

1. Frequent and persistent yeast infections

2. low energy with frequent colds

3. Voiding more frequently than the liquids you are taking in

4. Headaches

If you are in good health, eating a healthy whole foods diet, exercise 4 times a week or more and have a normal weight prior to pregnancy, you should have normal blood sugars too.

At around 28 weeks your baby's placenta will increase in a hormone known as Human Placental Lactogen and it can cause your body to keep more glucose in your system to help baby grow. If the tests are taken during this growth they could be abnormal.

If you do show that you are gestational diabetic, if you monitor your sugar levels at home and can keep them within the normal range with diet and exercise, you may have a label on your providers chart, however, are you really gestational diabetic still? Or have you corrected the issue and having a normal pregnancy now.

Risks of having GD can be challenging to you and baby if your levels are not easily maintained. One of the main issues is possible more frequent visits or non-stress testing in later pregnancy. More ultrasounds to see if baby is growing "Big". Possible inductions for a "Big " baby, possible suggestions of c/section for "Big" baby. Baby may have blood sugar checks 1-4 times after birth if their weight is 8# 13 oz on average.

Q: What are you willing to do to help your body be healthy so baby can do the same?

1. Eat protein of some kind at every meal and snack- meat, chicken, fish, eggs, hummus, nut butters, nuts, beans, quinoa, protein smoothie powers, cottage cheeses, and greek yogurt.

2. Walk at least 20 minutes a day

3. Avoid sweets, empty carbs like potato chips and pretzels, potato, rice, cereals

4. One hour per week - have whatever you want.

5. Look into supplements such as Chromium and Myoinosito with D-Chiro inositol. Both are helpful for supporting blood sugar regulation and are safe in pregnancy.

What is the solution if you were diagnosed with GD? Diet is the number one and exercise is second. Some women end up on insulin injections or metformin oral medication and still require home monitoring daily, a good diet and exercise.

The Good news is this may be a wake up call to change your lifestyle and focus on healthier eating habits. After all your parenthood path is well on its way and you'll be teaching your baby how to eat well to in the future. If your planning to breastfeed, your baby will benefit by a healthier lifestyle as well.

You're on the right tract, educating yourself and taking a proactive approach.

• What is one way you can incorporate this week to help improve you health, especially regarding your blood sugar?

• When will you do this?

• What can help you with achieving this?

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Natural Childbirth 101 is a complete education taught by a well seasoned midwife, Kaleem Joy. These classes are not your ordinary birth classes, these are meant to empower you to be an informed decision maker about your health. Kaleem will guide you through tests and ultrasound choices, supplements and nutrition, exercises and stretching and working with your care provider plus all the labor and birth education. She comes from 26 years of experience supporting families who achieve a 97% success at a natural, normal, birth free of interventions, complications, inductions and surgery. Would you love that?

Of Course you would love your best, healthiest pregnancy and smoothest birth with a positive breastfeeding and postpartum experience. Oh by the way, the education includes these too and even the partners journey.

Click here to learn more about the classes or maybe consult with Kaleem and design a plan for your pregnancy, birth and beyond to be what you would love. 💕

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