Since I’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I’ve been experiencing a lot more stress (I know, it's bad for the baby). My sugar levels were still occasionally high and not completely under control. It’s been frustrating because there have been days when I think I ate a proper meal and yet my sugar level was too high. Or, I ate the same thing for lunch two days in a row and one day my sugar level was fine but the next day it was too high. I’m tired of eating the same things day after day, and I’m tired of eating things I don’t want and not eating the things that I do. Most days I’m experiencing hunger throughout the day.
I still have appointments twice a week to monitor the baby’s heart rate and check the level of amniotic fluid. The baby’s heart rate has always been really good. Each nurse always comments that my baby is either, “crazy,” “very active,” or the nicer way one put it was, “she’s very happy.” At one appointment, it took 15 minutes to get her pinned down so that we could capture her heart rate. She wouldn’t stop moving.
At my last few appointments, I was getting some kind of non-favorable news. The level of amniotic fluid was nearing too high at one appointment and that was a cause for concern. It wasn’t technically “high” but to my dismay I was told what could happen if it did get to that level (fortunately, it was fine the following week). At another appointment, I was told that one of the doctors wanted to increase my medication to get my blood sugar levels under control. I’m not a fan of medication, especially while pregnant, and it discouraged me because I had failed to get my blood sugar levels under control.
But at last Friday's appointment I heard nothing but good news. Finally! The doctor was pleased with my sugar level numbers. I’ve had a few that were slightly high last week (but not much above the desired level), but the majority of the numbers were good. She did another ultrasound of the baby. She said that the baby looks good physically. The amniotic fluid level has decreased which is good -- typical as the due date approaches and a sign that the diabetes is under control.
The best news is that the baby is about 6 lbs 1 oz which is right where she should be. Babies typically gain a half of a pound per week, so with two weeks to go (and assuming my blood sugar levels remain under control), the doctor estimates that the baby will be between 7-8 lbs. This baby may actually be smaller than Karis (born at 8 lbs 2 oz)! I have been concerned about the possibility of having a C-section, but I should be able to deliver this baby with no problem.
With my last pregnancy, I mustered enough faith to know that God was in control and I trusted Him for the health and development of the baby. After all, there was only so much that I could do. But now with gestational diabetes, I have felt more ownership of the welfare of the baby. What I’m eating and the amount (or lack of) exercise that I do are having direct effects on her. Ultimately, I know that God is in control, but I can’t help but to feel a burden of responsibility. I’m trying to let it go and I'd like to think that I’ve been getting better with it. Since my last appointment, I've been resting easier and just trying to enjoy the last two weeks.
Here is a photo of the baby at 36 weeks. It’s a shot of her face with her hand in front of it.
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