[MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy]

So five weeks after being diagnosed with GD I see the NP for my endocrinologist today. I went in right after being diagnosed and they gave me a glucometer but no guidelines on what they wanted my blood sugars to be and no advice on what I should eat. So I go in show her my blood sugars and tell her that I have been trying to keep my blood sugars less than 140 which turns out is too high. I'm obviously pretty ticked that no one told me what to keep them at at this point. (I'm a nurse and less than 140 is the target for my patients). Then she asks me to list what I had to eat yesterday (which I told her wasn't typical because of super bowl). She looks at what I have been eating and starts flipping out! She goes on to say that I'm not getting enough calories or nutrients and that I must see a nutritionist asap. So here I am freaking out that I have been starving my baby and depriving him/her of the nutrients it needs. She has me do a typical day and still she said it wasn't as bad but I need to still see someone asap because I am far from getting enough nutrients. So basically I left the office feeling like a monster who is not feeding her baby in addition to not correctly monitoring my blood sugars. Restricting things have been the only way I have kept my sugars under control which by luck have pretty much been in the parameters they want. The NP said I will most likely end up on insulin as well because extremely low carbs have been the only way I have kept my sugars under control. I have to go back next week as well. I'm just so upset that here I have been thinking I've been doing a good job keeping my blood sugars under control and then find out that I have been basically starving myself. She said she thinks my baby won't have any damage from this but I'm still so upset that I have been doing this all wrong and have had no help from the people who are supposed to be there to help me with this. I know this might not sound like too horrible an appt but I left feeling upset and have been crying ever since. I have never seen a medical professional getting so freaked out before and having someone act like that has made this whole situation an hundred times worse. Thanks if you actually got through this vent. I can't wait till my OB appt next week which is my growth scan so I will know how my baby is doing. I really hope I haven't caused this little too much damage. I already feel like the worst mother on the planet and this baby hasn't even been born yet.

[CandaceDianne]

I am sorry you walked away from your appt feeling terrible! I definitly dont think its your fault you didnt know how to control it correctly or where to try and keep your numbers. TRY not to let it consume you, just do your best. Sometimes our bodies will do what they want to anyway, even if you do everything correctly. Do you mind if I ask how many calories a day, on average, you are getting? I know my DR told me 300-400 more calories per day (of course I dont know where to begin anyway....). Just hang in there and take it day by day!!

[MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy]

Candace- I was getting about 1200-1300 but the NP told me I need 1800. Thanks for your kind comments.

[stlgirl]

Sorry she made you feel so bad. They didn't give you any guidance, so how were you supposed to know what numbers to shoot for? As for your nutrition level, I wouldn't worry too much. You aren't starving your baby. You could maybe be doing more for YOURSELF, but baby will take what baby needs, and as long as you're taking your prenatal vitamins, you're probably fine.

[CandaceDianne]

I agree, I definitly dont think you are starving your baby. But those calories make me hungry! Just try to eat some more of the 'good' things and Im sure you'll be fine.

[Lyz]

honey, you are NOT hurting your baby! if I had known no one gave you guidelines I would have totally hooked you up! Don't worry, many women go undiagnosed with GD and their babies are just fine. Did your NP tell you what to do? keep until 130 for breakfast, lunch, dinner and until 90 for fasting? Also, check your sugars after 1 hour of eating, not 2 (like type II diabetes).

[MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy]

Thanks Lyz. They finally gave me guidelines today and they want me to check my blood sugar right before and 2 hours after my meals. They want my blood sugars less than 120 after meals and she said my fastings have been fine (they've been in the 80s to low 90s). I think it was her reaction that has really made me so upset. I've just never seen a healthcare provider act the way she did, and it was her reaction that had me so freaked out and scared. I will be seeing a dietician around noon tomorrow as well. Plus I have to check my urine for ketones every morning now.

[Etph007]

I was doing good to get 1500 while pregnant... I just didn't have a good appetite. It wasn't ideal but everything will be alright!!!!!!! They are jerks for not informing you of what they should have but you are NOT a bad mommy! Try not to be so hard on yourself! I'm sure your LO is just fine! Hang in there sweetie!

[MommaLee]

I saw a nutritionist at 11 weeks because I definitely have eating problems and she gave me some stuff.....so if you need some extra things, I can scan and email it to you (if you don't like what you hear from your dietician or need some extra stuff). Also, the calories needed are based off your body characteristics like your age/weight, etc. I am suppose to have a daily intake of 2,300 calories to maintain nutrient intake and healthy weight gain with this baby....that is based off of me being 5'09 and 170lbs.

Personally, I didn't think the nutritionist helped me all that much - but my insurance paid for the visit, so I took advantage of it.

Anyways....just let me know if you want me to scan and email you the stuff I got.

[ca_dawson]

Oh Casey I'm so sorry she upset you! You were doing the best you could knowing what you knew. And it doesn't sound like you were doing bad at all! How dare her act so unprofessionally! You're baby will get all the nutrients it needs so don't worry about that. Big hugs and I hope your next appt goes much better!

[MommyPoky]

It's not your fault!! It's so lame that they didn't tell you what to do

[Oreobaby]

I am so sorry Casey...I am pretty angry at your dr. myself for not giving you proper guidelines or anything, and just saying...here you go...how irritating!!! I agree that the baby will take what he or she needs from you, and it would be yourself that is lacking in nutrients, and I am sure you are fine as well!!!

[karenwalter]

So sorry you had a horrible appointment. How can they expect you to know what to do if no one told you. I am sure your baby is just fine too. Many people eat horrible diets and have all types of complications and have perfectly healthy babies. It's awful that they freaked you out so much instead of supporting you in changing things for the future.

I hope you get some more guidelines and things get easier from here on out.

[fromustobaby]

Casey,
I cant even imagine, I would have been furious - specially considering you are a nurse and you have been incredibly proactive about dealing with the GD diagnosis, whereas they have been the opposite...

Please please please try to remember, the reason why you had a bad appointment was because you were dealing with someone who was NOT acting in a professional manner, I don't know why she was acting the way that she was, but it was not right no matter what...

1. some people completely ignore GD, but you were actively keeping tracking of everything...

2. your blood sugars were lower and you were able to - even if they weren't *perfect* for what they wanted, you definitely had them under control...

3. baby always takes everything they need first, I know people who have lost weight being pregnant, and their baby is fine...eating slightly less than you should during a few week period means that you might have lost a few pounds, but baby is fine, s/he will get what s/he needs (like a cute little parasite)

HUGE my favorite DDB in the whole wide world

[*Mommy2Camden*]

I'm sorry chica. Try not to be so hard on yourself. I'm sure your baby is JUST fine. Your baby is very lucky to have a wonderful caring mom like you!

[Sakeenco]

I'm sorry Casey I can't believe she would freak out on u after not giving u guide lines and I don't think u are starving ur LO I think that she is just going overboard a bit but it would be good to see the nutritionist anyway because they usually have great advice on stuff and are great at giving u the info u need. Most the time they can't see what the DR's problems are too. I had to go earlier in my pregnancy because they were worried at first that I wasn't eating properly because I didn't gain an ounce after losing 10 lbs in the beginning until I hit 28 weeks and even now I have only gained 4.5 lbs back of the 10 lbs I lost as of my 35 week appointment. He told me I was eating properly and to just keep doing what I was doing because there was nothing wrong at all. (((Hugs)))

[Jennifer-Jacob's Mommy]

Casey, I don't think its your fault at all for what happened, and I have GD also. The guidelines they have me is

Breakfast- eat 45g of carbs
AM snack- 15 g of carbs
Dinner- 60 g of carbs
AF snack- 30 g of carbs
Supper - 75 g of carbs
Bedtime snack- 45 g of carbs

thats all they told me, so i been trying my best doing it.. ill have to see if i am doing good for sure when I go see my Obgyn on monday.. best of luck

[Soape]

you are not a bad mother at all!!!! I can't believe that the NP came at you that way. I think sometimes Dr's and other medical professionals forget that we are a normal people and not just nurses and we reallly do need the direction. I hope that the appointment with the nutritionist goes well.

[Lauren S]

I'm sorry she was so unprofessional when dealing with you.

I have to agree with the other ladies who said don't worry about a few weeks of eating 1200 calories! The baby definitely takes what it needs from you. It's you that's left dealing with the low cals. But that being said, there are lots of people who eat low calories (not by choice) during pregnancy and still have perfectly healthy babies.

I had gastric bypass, so sometimes it was hard for me to get as many calories as they might suggest. I only gained 11 pounds while pregnant, and my baby is as healthy as can be.

Good luck at your appt with the nutritionist and try not to worry too much.

[Jodi0804]

Just wanted to offer some