Busy Mom Soapbox

Archive for September, 2008

My new best friend

A little over a week ago, I got a call from my OB nurse and she said that my glucose level was high so I had to take the 3 hour glucose test!  I had a feeling this might happen.  Tuesday afternoon I was beginning to get yet another dizzy spell.  This was just an undiagnosed bout of pure torture.  After taking a prescription my doctor gave me in case this happened again, I went off into lala land and woke up the next morning with no signs of dizziness or nausea.  Since I had been fasting for over 12 hours due to not being able to think about eating, I went into the lab right at 9 am for my first poke.  The fasting blood draw  was to see where I stood with no sugar.  That turned out to be a normal 78.  After getting my blood drawn, I had to drink this concentrated fruit punch and wait an hour before getting blood drawn again.  My 4 yr. old son and I waited in the play area until it was time.  That first hour glucose level was at 194.  For being 28 weeks, the normal was 65-180.  Ok. So I flunked the first hour.  2nd hour the level is supposed to start going down but after the 3rd blood draw, it only went down to 167.  Oh great!  Flunked the 2nd hour.  For my 3rd hour and final poke, with my son behaving like a trooper, I endured another stab of the needle and the glucose level only went down to 166.  1 measly little point!  So it’s official.  I have Gestational Diabetes.  “During pregnancy, your hormones make it tougher for your body to use insulin, so your pancreas needs to produce more of it. For most moms-to be, this isn’t a problem: As your need for insulin increases, your pancreas dutifully secretes more of it. But when a woman’s pancreas can’t keep up with the insulin demand and her blood glucose levels get too high, the result is gestational diabetes.”-babycenter.com
Well, that brought a phone call from a diabetic clinic that I am supposed to go to on Friday to see what steps I need to take to maintain a consistent and safe glucose level.  In the meantime, I can have 3 meals, 3 snacks, fruit, a tiny bowl of cereal if I want in the morning.  My meal portions have to be the size of a saucer. What?!?  Yes, I am hungry after 1 1/2 since eating. But I’ll just get used to it.  I will also have to check my glucose level about 6 times a day to make sure it’s in check.

A couple days before I got the call that I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I had cravings for sugar.  I went to the store and loaded up on ice cream, ho-ho’s, a box of donuts and juice for afternoon snacks.  I even made a batch of homemade fudge brownies and endulged!!  Now I will have to patiently wait until the end of the week to see what my diet will consist of for the next 7 weeks.  I’ve never had any problems with my previous pregnancies, but with all the challenges I’ve endured with this last pregnancy, I’m not surprised that I have GB. I say, Bring it ON!”  I have to say, I am a bit disappointed with all the problems that my body has created.  TTTS, dizzy spells, gestational diabetes.  But at the same time, my body is developing and nurturing 2 healthy baby boys.  It’s a great blessing.  I’m ready to take on this new challenge!

I have been asked about updates with the babies.  Right now I am 25 weeks and 6 days. The ultrasounds each week continue to look great.  It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since having the laser ablation surgery to coagulate the blood vessles in the placenta.  This will let the babies get the blood supply independently.  I cannot forget how grateful I am to the great care I received in Houston.  Dr. Kenneth Moise and Dr. Johnson have great knowledge with fetal surgery.  Not once did I question the care I was given while in Houston. After finding out about Texas Children’s Hospital, there was no question on going to another hospital to care for these babies. 

The babies are continuing to grow, in fact, the ex-donor baby, is much more active than his brother.  Right now, both heads are down and I wonder how long that will continue.  Since I need to deliver by 36 weeks, I still have a little while to go.  I’m hoping to go naturally instead of getting a c-section.  I’ve never had a c-section, but I know the recovery is so much more tougher.  I’ll keep you posted!