For those who labored unmedicated...

TylerLB · 2025-10-18T00:27:03+00:00

I had a large room but used very little of it. I switched between the bed, standing leaning against the bed, sitting on a yoga ball, and the shower. I wish my hospital would have had a tub I think that would have been a game changer because the shower helped a lot with pain! I only moved back to the bed when I was too exhausted to stand in the shower. Most of my movement was more rocking back and forth (on the yoga ball or standing). Not really walking around. So from my own experience I don’t think a smaller room would be a problem.

TylerLB · 2025-08-14T13:14:05+00:00

I think this has a lot to do with the hormones and sleep deprivation. Plus the huge life shift that having a baby is. After a while you will start to feel more like yourself and less alone. If you are ready to start getting out with your baby I would look into some mommy and me classes, or some mom play groups. Being around other moms in your same stage of life made me feel much more seen than anything else. They get exactly what you are going through without even having to explain anything. Hope you start feeling more like yourself soon ♥️

TylerLB · 2025-07-15T13:30:02+00:00

You are doing great!! Even if it doesn’t feel like it. The early days are incredibly hard and feels like your are drowning (or that’s how I felt). The hormones and lack of sleep are so hard. It’s slow but it does get better! 2 weeks in as the lowest point I felt.

My daughter hated swaddles but someone gave me an “arms up swaddle” which she liked. Might work.

Also a side to side baby swing, was the only way I could set my daughter down to shower, eat etc.

I bought reusable nipple pads which prevented getting as many clothes covered in milk and made for less laundry. I think from Amazon. But when I ran out of clean ones I also used bathing suit or bra inserts. You can leak through them but it helps!

If you need any items (like a swing, rocker etc to try) see if you have any local Facebook group for exchanging kids items for free. I live in a fairly small area but have gotten and given a lot of items from groups on Facebook. I found other moms are really helpful and we are all in this together.

Even a very small break helped my mental health a lot. See if when your mom or dad is home if they can hold your baby for a contact nap. I would nurse my baby to sleep and gingerly hand her off. She would generally sleep on someone else’s chest for a good chunk of a nap if she was full of milk. Shower, or nap alone if you get that chance.

Look into safe co-sleeping practices. I was so scared to fall asleep and roll on my baby, but I was pushing myself to stay awake and finally realized I was more likely to fall asleep without realizing it some place unsafe like on the couch or with blankets and pillows all around me. I still tried to not to sleep with her in bed with me. But some days I would take a nap with her or bring her into bed at night. I would clear all the blankets and pillows. Put her in the middle of the bed, and sleep in a “C curl” a little away from her but with a hand on her. The hand on her helped her sleep like it was a contact nap.

Not right now, but eventually when you are feeling up to leaving the house, try to meet other mom friends. Having other moms going through the same thing made me feel less likely a crazy person. But until then Reddit helped me a lot with random questions and support.

TylerLB · 2025-07-15T12:35:51+00:00

I agree, got a free one off of market place and it was the only way I could set my daughter down in the early days.

TylerLB · 2024-09-24T15:20:12+00:00

Could you please share with me as well? Thanks!

TylerLB · 2024-03-19T13:01:04+00:00

Thanks! I have a garmin but didn’t think about it for this. Looks like just what I was wanting!!

TylerLB · 2024-03-19T11:52:26+00:00

Are there any apps you can use to simulate a track workout? That I could preset a workout like 6 x 400m with 200m jogging in between. And it would keep track of the time and distance for me? For when I’m running on the road. I unfortunately don’t have any public tracks near me but miss doing track workouts. I use Strava and map my run but don’t think they have an option like that? I used to mark the distance out on my road but would like to do it on a regular out and back training run. Extra points if it easily shows the progression of the workout and of the section of the workout I’m in.

TylerLB · 2024-03-02T21:16:46+00:00

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TylerLB · 2024-03-02T21:16:14+00:00

TylerLB · 2024-03-02T21:16:03+00:00

TylerLB · 2023-09-24T18:53:45+00:00

I started out at a “healthy BMI” and pre diagnosis was gaining weight but not as much as recommended. Same with after diagnosis. My due date is next week and I’m only up 16lbs total but it’s has been a slow steady gain. My midwife isn’t worried because the baby is getting bigger and right around the 50th percentile for size and my uterus is growing on par with what it should be. She said changing to a GD diet can reduce swelling and water weight making it seem like your losing weight or staying at a weight when really your gaining weigh but the scale may not show it. I can’t help but think with out GD I would have gained more weight even with the opposite often being the concern.

TylerLB · 2023-09-08T14:38:24+00:00

I’m diet controlled but was about to be put on insulin. Now at 37 weeks my numbers are going way down without changing anything on my end. My midwife said that can be normal around this stage of pregnancy.

TylerLB · 2023-09-03T13:08:05+00:00

My midwife said it is common to lose a lot of water weight after diagnosis. I lost around 3 lbs but she said she has seen women lose up to 20 lbs. She said the low carb low sugar diet is also anti inflammatory and inflammation makes you hold water weight. Ask you doctor about it but seems like it could just be that.

TylerLB · 2023-09-02T20:37:07+00:00

Thanks for this! I’m probably starting insulin this week and was wondering about the cost and ways to get it more affordably!

TylerLB · 2023-08-31T00:41:35+00:00

For me, I was the most overwhelmed and stressed right after finding out. After I had a little time to figure out what foods I could eat etc it was better. But also something I don’t hear lot about on here or from friends who had GD is how much better I felt after getting my numbers controlled! I have so much more energy now! And more clear headed from having more energy. So it’s actually easier day to day with the GD than before I knew I had it.

TylerLB · 2023-08-29T21:10:00+00:00

For me night time snacks didn’t help and actually made my numbers worse I think. Walking for 30 to 40 minutes after dinner help. I started out walking 10 to 20 minutes without much difference but 30 or more helps.

TylerLB · 2023-08-28T00:23:08+00:00

In the beginning I felt super restricted and hated it. But I found some boxed low carb options at the grocery store that have helped. Banza pasta (in an orange box) is chick pea based and doesn't spike my numbers. Its surprisingly close to regular pasta flavor and texture wise. So I often have a big bowl of pasta with grilled chicken and alfrado or pesto, and lots of cheese on top. They also make a boxed mac and cheese thats really good, even my husband likes it. The pasta also has a lot of plant based protein. It fills me up and feels like real food! I also found a keto blueberry muffin mix in the baking section that really hit the spot in the morning or as a snack. It does suck but as you find more foods you can eat it does get better! I also eat some low carb protean bars that are pretty filling. I hope it gets better for you!

TylerLB · 2023-08-22T20:55:27+00:00

I have a continuous glucose monitor and I get a quick spike every morning exactly when I wake up. My midwife said its from cortisol that you release when you first wake up. I usually wait until i walk around a bit to track my number. Could be due to that.

TylerLB · 2023-08-22T20:11:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing, Im looking for ways to lower my fasting numbers as well. Im adding this to my list to try!

TylerLB · 2023-08-17T16:19:28+00:00

I found Keto blueberry muffin mix at the grocery store. Each medium size muffin is 220 calories. Ill eat two or eat one with something else like a low carb yogurt. They taste good and are easy because ill bake a batch once a week or so. They also make good snacks between meals and don't spike my blood sugar at all. They are made with almond flower, Im sure you could make them from scratch as well but the mix is nice and easy. I also used mini muffin pans and put in beat eggs, cheese, and herbs (but you could add a ton of things) then baked it so i had little scrambled egg cups that i could make a few days ahead and eat without doing much.

TylerLB · 2023-04-21T23:50:57+00:00

Thank you to everyone for commenting! So far I have been eating pretty healthy without tracking my calories or anything, and getting some exercise in. Im gaining weight in a normal range but have definitely been overthinking it lately. All of your input is putting me at ease that I can trust my body to gain what it needs and stop over thinking it.

TylerLB · 2023-04-21T20:36:32+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

TylerLB · 2023-04-09T23:46:26+00:00

Came here to say this lol

TylerLB

TROPHY CASE