Friday, May 7, 2010

glucose test. update.

I failed.
This means that they get to starve me again,
make me drink a nasty sugary fruit punch drink again,
and poke me with a needle again.
Only this time they get to do it 4 different times over three hours,
which begs the question:
"Where are they going to find all the veins necessary
for these FOUR separate blood draws?"
Anyone?
I don't mean to be dramatic,
and frankly I would do anything and everything
to ensure the best possible outcome
for my beloved womb nugget,
and I'm still just pleased as punch about being pregnant at all...
But still.
This feels a little scary.
I'm not gonna lie,
I totally had a good cry today.
Mostly because I read up on gestational diabetes
on the Mayo Clinic's website, and they said that some babies
born to mothers with gestational diabetes have blood sugar issues that cause seizures.
Some babies are maimed and/or hurt during delivery because of their size.
Some babies have ADD, or poor motor skill development...
Some die before they are born.
Some are just fine because gestational diabetes is totally manageable with diet, exercise, and medicine if necessary. (This part should comfort me, but sort of doesn't just yet, even though I know it should.)
So, I took today and just let myself feel sad and a little scared.
Tomorrow, I've decided I will be happy and brave, and all sorts of "game-planned" out.
I dealt with 5 years of infertility, I can certainly take on 3 months of gestational diabetes.

I don't even know if I REALLY have it yet. Those answers will come via a 3 hour torture session at my doctor's on Monday morning. (yay!)

I'm not so worried about myself.
I'm worried about the womb nugget.
He DID NOT like that drink.
He almost kicked a hole in my uterus and made a break for it.
Seriously.
I was gasping in shock and pain at some of his
super-strength-sugar-spiked blows.
I have never felt anything quite like it.
My midwife couldn't even take an accurate heart rate reading
because he was kicking the doppler right off of my belly.
(Seriously, we had a good laugh about it. Dude is gonna play some mean soccer.)
He had another bout of crazy from 11:00 pm-1:00 am.
I couldn't sleep.
He was brawling with my organs and then doing an Irish jig on their cold, dead remains.
Seriously. It was nuts.
I don't see how doing the same thing to him
(TIMES THREE)
is a logical, or even responsible thing to do.
Can't we just assume I have GB and just do the diet and what not?
Should we really starve me and then spike my blood sugar
when it's been made clear that it's not good (even dangerous) for both me and baby bob?

Okay.
Vent sesh over.
Thanks for listening.
Has anyone done this before?
Where did they poke you 4 different times?
Did you "pass" your second test?
Has anyone had GB before?

11 comments:

Heather said...

Yes, I have! I'm sorry, those tests are horrible, horrible, horrible!

I had gestational diabetes with Becca, I almost starved before she was born. I only gained 18 pounds with that pregnancy. I really hope you don't have it, but if you do it's very very temporary. I was SO relieved the day after she was born and my blood sugar was normal! Yay, I could eat a full meal again.

Whatever torture you have to endure, just know that it's so worth it! I know you know that, but wow, I just look at my Rebecca and she's so amazing- that 3 months of gestational diabetes doesn't even matter anymore. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

The Piquant Storyteller said...

I have Type 1 diabetes, commonly known as juvenile onset diabetes. I have had 3 babies. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but I did it. You can do this.

I grew up believing that because of my diabetes I couldn't have my own kids. My 3 kids are perfect and when I look at them I realize what a miracle they are.

That miracle came at the price of hard work to keep my blood sugars in tight control. My first two babies were little, less than 7 lbs, in spite of what the doctors told me I would deliver. My last baby was my biggest mostly because she is so tall.

There are scary stories out there about what can happen to babies born to any type of diabetic mother. Don't get so scared you stop trying. Those stories are very scary, I will admit. But good diabetes management is your insurance. You can do this.

If you fail on Monday, and chances are you will pass, do whatever the doctor tells you to do. Diet, blood sugar tests via finger pricking, whatever. Just do it and your baby is that much more likely to be fine. I will be praying for you. Everything will be fine. :)

Sarah said...

Lola! I'm so sorry you're having to go through this :( I had gestational diabetes with all 3 of my pregnancies, and all three of my babes were just fine. It is scary though, so just don't even google or webMD anything! Your doctors will take wonderful care of you and baby bob ;) For the second test, I'm not going to lie, it was not fun. I have horrible veins to begin with, so I got stuck a lot more than just 4 times. When they ran out of places on my arm, they would try my hand. Just think of something wonderful, like your little munchkin growing inside, and it will help you remember that all that poking and pricking is worth it :)

Anonymous said...

{{HUGS}}
Take it easy and pamper yourself tomorrow for Mothers Day. Sending good luck!

Blackwell said...

I can empathize with you, I had to take that test when I was preg. with Jackson (you probably read my comment on the last post). It sucks but just bring a good book and it will be over before you know it. They take the blood from both sides of your arms, they just move up or down a tiny bit. You kinda feel like a pin cushion but hey I passed and I'm sure you will too! I think that first test just really isn't accurate. and lame! Look at Jackson, he turned out just fine :o) call me if you want to know anything else.

Celeste said...

Just manifest yourself a big fat pass. I know how powerful you are with your positivity. Put away the computer & think happy blood sugar thoughts.
Love you!

Jen Nelson said...

YUCK!! I had to do the 3 hour test too :( boo!!

The 1 hour Kell was turned funny and kicking my spine! I had to stand the hole time and was gasping!

The 3 hour... not going to lie. It was bad! The lab was *supposed* to open at 7 - the freaking chic was 15 minutes late!! By the time she was ready it was 7:30! I had to lay on the floor a few times because I thought I was going to pass out/throw up!
When I left I drove straight to Burger King (at 10:30 in the morning) and ordered 2 whoppers. and ate them in the parking lot.

I totally passed my second test with flying colors. You'll do fine! Do you want me to come with you and feed you ice chips?

LOVE YOU!!!

Mandy said...

I've not gone through this, but please know I'm sending love and prayers. GOOD LUCK to you and your womb nugget. :)

Mandy said...

I did have 'bad results' with the triple screening test that they do to check for genetic disorders. They thought my middle boy had Trisome 18 - which is bad. No real chance of survival past 1 year if baby makes it that far. After several scary genetic tests, it turned out he was fine. Just super duper scary.

Chesney said...

Laura,
we went to high school together do not know if you remember me Chesney Riddle, well I had gest diabetes with my son who will be three in july and they put me on a really controlled diet counting my carbs, I did really well with it and have stuck to it today, I had no trouble at all when I got prego with my little girl who I had in sept., neither of my children have any issues at all. I have stuck to my carb diet since they put me on it almost three years ago on june 6 of this year and have maintained a healthy weight for the first time in my life. Hope all works out for you, I just came across your blog today and congrats on the new baby!!!! take care and best of luck
Chesney Riddle-Galindo

vickersfam said...

Hello, my name's Natalie and I'm starting to blog-stalk you through Communal Global (I'm friends with Kate Hulet in Vegas). I'm originally from northern Utah and I've had GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) with all three of my pregnancies. The only risk factor I have is a family history of diabetes (grandma and grandpa, sister's also had GDM with 4 or 5 of hers). But I still got it.

I took the horrible 3-hour test ONCE. I didn't pass, so I got the glucometer, took a class at the hospital (which only helped a bit since I was a Nutrition Education minor at Weber State), and controlled my blood sugar through diet, exercise and keeping track of the #s, of course. It was probably the hardest to handle (emotionally) with the 1st. 2nd and 3rd it was still hard to limit and control myself, but I did a pretty good job and my babies were the perfect size and in perfect health. It's all about education and sticking with the rules (as much as possible).
Instead of reading scary stories, I like to surround myself with positive and encouraging info, like this website:
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_index.html

To make a long comment longer, the main tricks for me (and anyone with GDM in general) is:
-include protein in any meal/snack to keep blood sugar stable
-limit rice/potato or other grains that you find spike your blood sugar and eat LOTS of leafy greens, beans, quinoa, etc.
-eat several small meals/snacks a day
-don't fast for too long (even overnight...more insulin gets pumped out and your blood sugar can spike again)
-you CAN eat sugar, as long as you do it in small portions, separate from your meal and WITH protein (my fav...a handful of raw almonds first)

I'd love to chat with you about this (and anything else) if you want. It's a passionate subject now, as is pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. natalievickers at gmail dot com.
Cheers!