Gestational Diabetes & Second Pregnancy

its not going to hurt you to do a diabetic diet pregnant or not its healthier. I only had to deal with it my last pregnancy and still eat that way. I feed my kid like he has it to control yeast infections. I feel better since I have started the diet when I was pregnant and now that I am not pregnant if I don't continue to eat that way I get sick easy.I would rather feel good and control what I eat. I have more energy since I keep the diabetic diet. so what is it going to hurt to do it even when your not pregnant?

I had GD with my 1st pregnancy, daughter was born via c sec at 27 weeks because I got preeclampsia. 2nd pregnancy, I did not have GD, I did nothing different with my diet, I did not exercise like I did with 1st pregnancy. I had my son 3 days before my due date, I had a VBAC, and he was healthy (my daughter was healthy even though premature). Pregnancies are not necessarily going to be the same. I did everything the right way the first time and ended up in an emergency situation, and the second one I didn't follow any rules and it was a completely different experience. Just got to roll with the punches. I wish you luck.

My first pregnancy I was probably GD and they didn't catch it - my son was 10 lbs 2 oz, and eventually had to have a emergency c-section to deliver him (after pushing for 4 hrs with no progress). Four years later, I had my second son by VBAC - he was only 8 lbs 13 oz. My suggestion would be to start the GD diet before you get pregnant. That way you are in the routine of it before morning sickness and all of that starts....and it will be easier to keep to it if you're already eating that way. With my second pregnancy, I was already eating close to a diabetic diet when I conceived, and by keeping up on the diet, I was able to keep the baby's weight down enough to have a vaginal birth.

A few cautions though - if you've already had GD during a pregnancy, you are at a much higher risk to develop it in subsequent pregnancies, as well as later in life. You may have an underlying condition that contributes to it as well (insulin resistance, PCOS, etc). And the GTT tests they give you may not catch it either. Both pregnancies I failed the 1 hour & passed the 3 hour test....and I was still GD. Definitely talk to your OB/GYN about it - they can direct you to a nutritionist or even an endocrinologist if they feel it's necessary.

I just had a baby 8/8. I was not found to have GD, nor did I gain more than 24lbs during the course of my pregnancy. My baby was 10lbs 8oz. He was my baby #2

Baby #1 I gained 46lbs, still not GD she was 3 weeks early and was 7lbs 11oz. If carried to term, she may have gotten to the 9-10lb range. It seems to be I may be more predisposed to larger babies, tho I myself was not.

Since baby #2 was so overly large (diagnosed with macrosomia) and it thwarted my homebirth VBAC - I ended up stalling at 7cm for 8 hours, went to the hospital and fully dilated but baby was not descending and ended up with cesarean #2.

My 3rd pregnancy I will use the diabetic diet in hopes that baby's weight will be in normal limits and I can finally have my homebirth VBAC!

You can't really do anything to prevent gestational diabetes as it is caused by the baby itself. It goes away immediately after birth. I had gestational diabetes with both my pregnancies. The OB/GYN suggested a scheduled C-Section because during the last month the baby can grow really big.

You can start a diabetic diet before hand if you wish, but that will not prevent you from having gestational diabetes. It is likely you will have it again a second time. There are a lot of websites for diabetes. I would just google them. That's what I did when I was pregnant. There is a lot of great information. Your OB should also have a pamphlet on diabtes for you as well.

When I was going through the GD, I remember having to eat five small meals a day. Three main meals, with two snacks. Carbs should not exceed 15gm I believe...if I'm remembering correctly, and stay away from starchy foods as starch turns into sugar/carbs.I believe....(A nutritionist will have all the facts for ya, and your OB will probably recommend that you go to one).

Stay away from cokes. Lots of sugar in them. Even the diet ones. The carbination in cokes, and any other carbinated drinks, actually "expand" your stomach leaving you to feel hungry. I learned this from my gastric bypass surgeon.

Best wishes to you! Hope this helps. :-)

I had GD with my first pregnancy. When I got pregnant again I started on the diet to see if I could possibly help to NOT have it the 2nd time. It didn't help. I had it with my second one as well.

It is not about what we eat it is about how our bodies process the food.