Living with gestational diabetes

So since my diagnosis of gestational diabetes I've been testing my blood sugars 3 times a day every day, avoiding white carbs and sugar wherever possible and while it stresses me out it hasn't actually Been that bad. I haven't put on much weight this pregnancy because of the constant sickness the first 16 weeks and now I'm watching what I eat so that's always a upside! I'm relaxing on it slightly and enjoying creme eggs again and the odd potato as my readings are very rarely high - this is where my annoyance with the GD diagnosis comes in though.

When we were first diagnosed I was terrified I didn't know much about GD and a quick search in google will bring up horror stories of 14lb babies and stillborns!! We were really strict and I cried for 2 days straight half for me and what was to come and half for my poor little girl who I'd inflicted this on before I even got her out into the world - I felt like it was my fault and id failed her already.

Then we met Petra - an amazing midwife who ran our antenatal classes and has given me more of a kick up the backside than she could ever probably realise. She opened my eyes to the fact that the NHS now tests more women for GD than ever before, 1 risk factor and that's it you're set to be tested - this was never the case. Not once have I had glucose in any of my urine samples, I do not have a big baby and other than this label hanging over my head I am a perfectly healthy mother to be. 

So we started reading up ourselves about GD with advice from Petra and discovered that induction, constant monitoring of myself and baby and intervened labour is not he best way forward while I remain diet controlled and baby remains normal growth - we have since met with a senior midwife from the midwife led unit at the hospital which advocates natural birth and she is more than happy for me to birth in her unit while I stay under those constraints. 

While I think my care since being pregnant has been fantastic I do have a problem with how they deal with risk - I get it's a tick box system where they're covering their own backs but without meeting Petra we were given no choices about which path we wanted to go down now we were just scared into going along with their plans in fear of something awful happening otherwise and that I don't agree with. Thank god for some of those amazing midwives we've met in the last few weeks!! Next hurdle - 36 week final growth scan and getting into spontaneous labour!!

Baby girl at 33 weeks - 4lb 9oz estimated

My bump & me!

On the 16th August I found out, unexpectedly, that I was pregnant. To say I was shocked is an understatement and I thought we had forever to get ready for this massive life change but that was nearly 7 months ago and with around 8 weeks until our little girl,(to be named Madeleine Grace) turns our world upside down I have no idea where that time has gone! I already find that the details are blurring and the weeks are rolling into each other and I don't want to miss or forget a single thing from this little girls life so what better way to keep a record than a blog. I have the best intentions to keep a scrapbook but I can see my life is about to get very busy and don't want to miss anything because I haven't had time to put it in the scrapbook! 

I'm not sure how this will pan out as it goes along, some I think I might write to our girl to put away for her to read when shes older but maybe not always, who knows if anyone else will even read this but its good for me and her daddy to have a record of our lives either way

xXx

From BFP to Bump!!

16th August - We found out we were pregnant, amazing how 2 little lines can suddenly turn the world on its head!

17th August - We told my parents, just as excited as we were but first question was "What about Florida?!" Priorities eh!

21st August - I had a small bleed so we were sent to the hospital for an emergency scan, thankfully all was well and we saw a tiny little heartbeat flickering away on the screen - AMAZING!

11th September - Our first wedding anniversary is tomorrow and due to the delightlful all day sickness I'm experiencing we decided against our spa break, not really worth it we thought so instead we booked a private scan so we could see our little baby instead, was a great decision, it really put our minds at rest to see them growing well and on track

7th October - Our 12 week NHS scan, all well and given an official due date of 16th April 2014!

2nd November - To make sure Aunty Tabs knew what colours to buy while shopping in Florida we were treated to a private gender scan - its a girl!!

15th November - My 16 week check at the midwife and we heard the heartbeat on the doppler for the first time!! Daddy was gutted to have missed it and has vowed not to miss any more appointments!

End November - those little flutterings in my tummy are most definitely baby now, becoming a daily occurence, usually at night and becoming a lot clearer

2nd December - Our 20 week NHS scan, confirmed again that its a girl thankfully and baby did not want to be disturbed today, took a lot of jiggling and trips round the ultrasound clinic to get all the shots needed but we got there eventually - all is perfect!

9th December - First big kick seen from the outside!

23rd December - Baby got hiccups!!

24th December - Baby gave daddy an early Xmas present and he finally felt baby kick! 

25th December - V-day, from today baby is officially viable and if born has a good chance of survival!

6th January - Tests for gestational diabetes came back positive so our lovely planned homebirth is out and the delivery suite is in, I am absolutely gutted and its really affected my view on the impending birth but coming round it slowly, I know I need to do whatever it takes to get her here safely but its so far removed from what I wanted and the consequences of the GD for both her & me during the birth and after is a scary prospect to get my head around. For now all I can do is try and keep my blood sugars under control as best as I can and hold off the meds for as long as possible for both our sakes! One upside is we have 3 more scans now on the NHS to check on her growth so more opportunity to see our girl.

17th January - Our 28 week growth scan, first of 3, and shes perfect! Ideal growth on all charts and currently estimated to weigh 2lb 7oz!

23rd January - As a present for Daddy's birthday we had a 4d bonding scan - an amazing experience and already shes the spitting image of her daddy! Still a bit camera shy and we disturbed her sleeping cuddled up to the placenta but was definitely worth it - head over heels in love with her already! 12 weeks to go!