28 weeks 1 day pregnant - third tirmester, insulin

Well Im definately in the third trimester now.  On different sites they say different things as well as my 'pregnancy day by day book'.  (In the book Im in the final section.)  Its funny isnt it, but at the beginning of the journey, I identified certain landmarks that I would love to reach - 'oh I would love to be 12 weeks, will I ever make it?  Can I get to 20 weeks?  Will I ever reach the 2nd/3rd trimester?'  Now those landmarks are beginning to subside into the past- I have 32 weeks (for some reason feels quite prominent in my head) left and then the end - a baby. 

I have spent every Wednesday going to the diabetic clinie.  This week it was decided that I needed medication.  There were 2 choices offered - metformin (spelling) and insulin.  They started the conversation about Metformin by talking about its safety record which pricked up my ears.  Ive never had a conversation like that when doctors are used to prescribing the drug and are confident.  Apparently, like many other drugs, it is not licensed for pregnancy and it is not yet accompanied by years of data.  She said that many other clinics prescribe it but they had only, in the last year or so, been prescribing it at my hospital.  Insulin, on the other hand, is licensed and comes with years of data.  I made the insulin the choice of the day, explaining that I couldnt take any chances.

The worst part about making that option is that I have to let my insurance company know.  I have to test my gloucose before driving and let the DVLA know that Im on this medication.  I have yet to take the drug.  Im supposed to take it with a main meal and the food options I have feel so borning and my taste buds so off, that I have spent the last couple of weeks just snacking.  I have a celary stick here, a couple of crackers there, a peach or a plum an hour or so later.  So although, I wake up and eat breakfast (so I can take my tablets) I have yet to have what I call a main meal.  In addition, there are some foods that I know dont raise my gloucose levels like an omlulet with mushrooms.  So, in a way this has helped me control my diet more.  I have had more salads, olives etc.  Anyway, incase you are wondering, my insurance company was fine.  I hear the DVLA can be harder as they then issue you with a limited 3 year license, despite it being something that wont last for more than 12 weeks in my case.  I shant ring them till I actually use the insulin, in case I dont need to (since snacking my level hasnt been higher than 7.1 (.1 over the maximum level).

Two weeks till my next scan.  I saw the consultant on Monday and he said very little about my child being a  boy and not a girl and his comments about survival rates - 'lets hope he's a good fighter too'.  Classic brush off.  My blood pressure was up again - maybe its that clinic.  So he wants me to up the blood pressure tablets to 3 a day.  Like I said above, that has become tricky as, Im not identifying any particular snack as a main meal so I say to myself, Ill eat properly later and then never do.

Exciting stuff has been around shopping.  We got a buggy.  We went for the Quinny Buzz as DH really liked it and yesterday I bought the carry-cot on line.  Very exciting.  We set up the buggy, explored all the buttons and pushed it around the lounge.  (A negative of the buggy is that it only just fits through the door!!)  Of course it wont fit in my car, a matiz (smaller than a Noddy car) but Im intending to change that.    I cant wait for the carry-cot to arrive so we can push that around too.  DH loves it.  I got it from an ebay shop and rrp is £385 for the buggy, I got mine for £250 and the carry-cot for £59.00 when that rrp is £150.  Both new in the box.  One car seat to go and the bedding situtation solved.  We also need some vests in newborn size and then the lotions and potions, that I think we will wait for a bit to buy. 

You may well be wondering what sprang me into action.  Well, it was the words of the consultant saying, we dont have to hospitalise you YET!  What, I cant be hospitalised, what about Max (my dog).  Can you imagine 12 weeks in hospital.  Well maybe 10 because he said with gestational diabetes we normally induce at 38 weeks - thats 10 weeks away.  I dont think this pregnancy is going fast - day by day sitting at home doing nothing - but 10 weeks.  If I was stuck in hospital I dont know what DH would buy and I want to be part of it anyway, part of the excitment.

Remind you to tell you about my trip to the dentist on my next entry.

Symptoms = baby moving, bleeding gums, sickness (still vomitting occasionally and sick burps a couple of times a week), food tastes unpleasant

26 weeks 2 days pregnant - gestational diabetes

Can you believe Ive now got gestational diabetes.  On my last consultant scan I had gloucose in my urine.  I had a follow-up blood test which found a level of 9.  My fasting score is in normal range which confirms that it is gestational rather than regular diabetes.  It explains my headaches and total weariness - those 3 hour naps.

Since my diagnosis I have spent 2 days at the hospital.  1 full day, when I arrived at 8.40 after fasting since 10pm the previous night.  My blood was then tested.  I had to drink 2 and half glasses of flat lucazade, wait for 2 hours then my blood was tested again.  The results confirmed it as gestational diabetes.  After which I was told the bad news by the nurse.  I cried.  Its just another thing.  Then I saw the dietican.  She went through my current diet and then advised me of the things I need to cut.

I need to cut out fizzy drinks (I could drink diet drinks but I feel very stongly about the sweetners that are included in diet drinks so I wont), not too much fruit, no fruit juice, reduce carbs, no treats (ice cream, cakes, chocolate etc - I have just developed a taste for these) and sugar and sugary sweets (my saving grace when I feel sick).

Food feels very boring now.  My best response to a meal has been after a three egg omlulet with mushrooms and tomatoes.  Of course because there were no carbs. 

I have to prick my finger 4 times a day.  When I wake in the morning and then 2 hours after every meal. I hate doing it and although I can do the early tests, as the day progresses I lose courage. 

On Tuesday, I have a scan.  Its going to be a tricky meeting as I need to challenge them about the results I got from them and the contradictory second opinion, including the gender! 

Symptoms = baby moving most day (can be quiet on some days, lucky I have my fetal monitor), headaches, tiredness