Adding gestational diabetes to the mix…

Just checking in to update you on my OB appointment earlier today. As far as Molly goes, things appear to be pretty much the same. I still continue to feel her move a good amount and our OB was able to find her heartbeat. I will return on Monday and Thursday of next week, assuming I don’t go 24 hours without feeling her move.

There was no protein in my urine sample today, but my blood pressure was a bit high. That said, he still didn’t seem concerned about preeclampsia. Our OB said that my swelling and weight gain are both common with my own fluid retention and that I have to just do my best to drink lots of water and keep my feet up when I can.

Unfortunately two of the four blood draws during my 3 hour glucose test on Saturday were elevated (the 2nd and 3rd ones, my 1st/fasting and my 4th ones were normal). So technically that makes me a gestational diabetic. I was not too happy to learn this news, but am trying to suck it up and do what I need to do to get through the rest of this pregnancy. Our OB emphasized that he doesn’t want me to freak out about this and that I am on the low end of gestational diabetes. He said to avoid concentrated sugars (such a candy and fruit juices), try to not eat a lot of things with high carbs, aim for 3 balanced meals a day with some snacks in between and to focus more on whole grains, than things made with white flour. In a “normal” pregnancy they would send me to a dietitian, but he said he didn’t think it was necessary in our situation.

Going forward I will have my fasting blood sugar checked once a week, in conjunction with one of my twice weekly appointments, for however long Molly survives. Our OB also said to go ahead and schedule another Level II ultrasound/MFM consultation for two weeks from now, in case we make it that far, so he/we can keep an eye on how Molly is doing (more so that can be determined through a normal OB appointment).

Our OB still maintains, and we still fully understand, that Molly’s prognosis is very bleak and she will very likely be born still. However, it was good to know that if somehow she holds on long enough, that Dr. Cuneo would be asked to take another look and they would assess her closer to the time, just in case she might by some miracle have a chance.

So that is where things stand. To be honest I am really struggling with the physical discomforts I am experiencing (fluid retention that has led to swelling and more than the usual pregnancy weight gain, pressure on my bladder and Braxton Hicks to name some) and adding a diabetic diet right now is not something I am feeling very positive about. Emotionally I am hanging in here, but this continued roller coaster ride is also taking its toll on me.

Please keep those thoughts and prayers coming, especially that I continue to have the strength to get through this, as I feel I really need them right now. I know that I (and we) can and will get through this, I am just feeling very drained right now and the not knowing when this pregnancy is going to end (but having a fairly good sense of how it will end) is a bit daunting, to say the least.

Thank you for letting me vent. Your continued encouragement and support means so much to Bob, Sean and me. If there are no significant changes in Molly’s condition or mine, I will post at the latest after our next OB appointment on Monday.

It’s definitely a weird late March day/evening, as there is actually snow accumulation outside our home right now. Bob joked earlier that spring isn’t going to come until this whole thing is over with.

Thank you for reading. Take care and may God bless you and your loved ones.