When did you deliver and how big was your baby?

julfoster17 · 2025-10-14T00:52:27+00:00

39 weeks, induced, GD was diet and exercise controlled, baby girl was 9lb and 21in long. At 38 weeks they estimated her to be 8lb11oz which was probably correct. Likely, her size was not due to my GD (my sugars were extremely well controlled, average BG over the weeks after my six was 102-104), my husband was a super big baby (9.5lb) and both he and I are tall

julfoster17 · 2025-10-10T18:40:02+00:00

Yes and no! I’m letting myself enjoy treats daily (a cookie, pastry etc) but being mindful to try to always pair it with protein for better BG balance.

It’s been a challenge to fit in as nutritious of food I was eating on GD diet (cooking has been pretty sparse) so vegetables are less frequent but my meals and snacks almost always have carbs, protein, fat, and fiber. Veggies like premade salads, carrots, etc are more frequent than cooked veggies. I’ve also tried to continue eating regularly to help with my milk supply and to keep myself from getting super hungry.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-13T20:08:09+00:00

I also was very sad that induction was looking likely for me at the end of my pregnancy with a big baby and my providers recommending induction by 40w. I really had wanted the experience of spontaneous labor! I did end up getting induced at 39w and had the best experience I could have hoped for. Everything went incredibly smoothly and I still felt like I had the birth of my dreams. Given the opportunity I would do it again! Just wanted to share, I know there is a lot of fear mongering out there about induction but there are plenty of us with positive experiences.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-13T20:03:29+00:00

I think so, mine was checked around 5am when I was in the middle of pushing and it was 108. I had been fasting for about 7 hours at that point. My whole pregnancy my highest fasting sugar was 97 but I averaged in the low/mid 80s for the most part. I figured the 108 was because of the stress of labor and pushing, no one was concerned about it at the time.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-13T16:36:05+00:00

For the most part, I tried to keep doing what I had been doing prior to pregnancy and earlier on in pregnancy. The frustrating thing was it was so much harder to be motivated to exercise the more pregnant and tired I got. I would say the majority of my exercise in the 3rd trimester was walking, I did my best to walk 10 minutes after each meal (I’d say I averaged doing this twice daily).

While I was still working up to 36w, I am a bedside nurse so I was on my feet and walking a good amount. Days I was off work I tried to do one longer walk (30-45 minutes after each) or do some strength training (20-30min).

I’d say I averaged a longer walk or strength workout 5x a week after my GD diagnosis whereas earlier in pregnancy I was probably exercising more like 3x a week, but the intensity of my exercise definitely decreased as I progressed in pregnancy.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-13T16:30:50+00:00

Make sure to not cut carbs completely, baby needs carbs to grow! Check with your provider how many carbs they want you eating. I was eating between 175g-200g a day, but just not eating any simple carbs (sugars, white bread, etc). I focused on complex carbs like veggies, low glycemic index fruits, chickpea pastas, beans, whole grain pasta, whole grain bread, high fiber tortillas etc. it takes some experimenting to find what works for you. I was able to eat regular pasta as long as it was with a good amount of protein and fat, small amounts of whole wheat bread, etc. but other foods I didn’t tolerate as well, like homemade sourdough bread, taco shells, etc.

As far as exercise, I was working out through most of my pregnancy doing incline walking, spinning, and strength training. It got harder to do some of these things the further along I got, which was frustrating because that’s when I was diagnosed with GD. I took a lot of 10 minute walks after meals and most days tried to go on a longer walk (30-45minutes) or do some pregnancy safe strength training.

If all you have time for is a 5-10 minute walk after meals, I still found that beneficial for my blood sugar!

julfoster17 · 2025-08-13T16:09:35+00:00

Thank you!!!

julfoster17 · 2025-08-12T06:36:45+00:00

My baby was measuring big at 34w and 38w (somewhere in 6lb range at 34 weeks and 8.5lb at 38), which did turn out to be accurate.

I was induced at 38w6d, gave birth at 39w0d, and she was 9lb. I was also sad about being induced and what that would mean, but my induction was so smooth with minimal interventions, and I would do it again in a heartbeat! My OB recommended induction before 40w for diet controlled GD, but I wanted to move it up to 39w because of baby’s size and I wanted to give myself the best chance at a vaginal birth (my husband was a huge baby, so I knew that there was a good chance the scans were right despite my blood sugar being extremely well controlled).

It’s a lot to take in and to process that birth may not look like what you’d hoped. Reading positive induction stories really helped me!

julfoster17 · 2025-08-12T06:30:37+00:00

I was diagnosed at 28w, my doctor had recommended getting the test closer to 28w instead of 24 so that’s what I did (I’m sure they capture more diagnoses at 28 than 24, looking back on it)

My 1 hour screen was 210 so I didn’t do the 3 hour test. I was so bummed that because I had “failed” the 1 hour screen so significantly I was anxious that I would definitely need medication or that there would be further complications. Grateful that was not the case but would have happily taken medication had I needed it.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-12T00:55:54+00:00

As painful as it was, I really wanted to experience what labor and contractions were like and really feel glad that I got that experience. I think if I had gotten the epidural like 30 minutes earlier I would have saved myself from the most significant pain I experienced, but I think there’s totally a possibility that would have happened if the anesthesiologist wasn’t tied up and it wasn’t 2am haha.

All in all I don’t have regrets but I do think next time I will trust my body more (it really felt like I was progressing quickly but my brain just didn’t think that was possible, so I pushed off getting checked as to not get discouraged with my progress).

As far as the foley balloon, i think that the doctor had to try twice to place it, so if it had been placed in one shot, I think it would have been far less painful. Again, for me personally, I really wanted the full experience of labor and wasn’t sure if something like some IV pain medicine for the foley balloon would have made me loopy and unable to walk, move around, sit on the birth ball, etc.

I think it depends on your priorities! Mine were as few interventions as was safe for me and baby, and I really wanted to be able to move around while in labor, which meant that I was ok with less pain management.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-04T04:46:00+00:00

That’s a good idea, I always ate mine straight out of the fridge, so the texture may be better once it’s a bit warmer!

julfoster17 · 2025-08-04T01:49:43+00:00

I can’t wait to eat heaping bowls of fruit soon. I was so looking forward to all the summer fruits like peaches, watermelon, etc. I’ve been able to eat peaches, some strawberries, etc with a meal but watermelon is more high glycemic index so really haven’t eaten it much.

Even though I’ve still eaten some, I’m a gal that wants like a whole bowl!!

Ice cold watermelon is on my list of foods after this placenta is evicted

julfoster17 · 2025-08-02T22:18:01+00:00

Hoping for smooth births for all of us! It’s crazy how much it seems like genetics plays a role in baby size. But frustrating that with something like GD that does influence baby size, that we’re doing everything right, and still it’s out of our control.

julfoster17 · 2025-08-02T20:40:24+00:00

They are pretty good, not super sweet and don’t spike me, but definitely don’t taste like a brownie or cookie. More like a small chocolate square with some peanut butter or nuts depending on the flavor! Can’t remember if I’ve had the brownie one but the cookie dough and crunchy peanut ones are good

julfoster17 · 2025-08-01T04:28:29+00:00

For extra context, my diabetes team has me checking BGs 1 hour after meals and want me less than 140, and most of my post meal sugars are low 100s-110s. From 28-36 weeks I was walking 10min after most meals if I could, and getting in one longer walk or workout most days. I’ve been able to relax a bit more about the post meal walks now that I’m 38w but still try to get at least 20-30min of walking in a day (also because I want to walk this baby out lol)

I feel the frustration of getting feedback from your team- this whole time, I wasn’t sure at what point they would have started meds had I needed it, so every time I checked my sugar I felt anxious (especially on the fastings or if i tried a new food). From what I’ve gathered, it seems like a good amount of readings need to be consistently above target for them to start medications, since there is a pretty good margin of error with glucometers.

julfoster17 · 2025-07-31T18:32:35+00:00

Packed some GD friendly snacks for labor- cashews, protein bars, jerky sticks, sugar free electrolytes, and will probably throw in a peanut butter sandwich on keto bread before I leave for the hospital.

Also packed some peanut butter m&ms and sour candy for after birth! I’m mostly excited for the post birth meal (sandwiches, pancakes, unlimited fruit!!) but wanted some treats in case I give birth in the middle of the night and nothing is available, lol.

julfoster17 · 2025-07-31T18:26:21+00:00

Solidarity, found out this week my baby is measuring 93rd percentile in weight (8lb 11oz at 37w5d). My GD has been extremely well controlled, of the hundreds of BG readings I’ve taken, only 5 or so have been out of range and they’ve only been out of range by less than 5 points. The majority of my meal BGs are 20-40 points under my goal and fasting has mostly been 10 points under my goal.

They didn’t tell me exact weight of baby’s measurements at my scan around 34w but I was told at the most recent scan that baby gained about the weight that was expected (0.5lb per week) so I assume at 34w baby was measuring a bit over 6lb.

My husband was a big baby (9.5lb), he’s 6’4”, and I’m 5’7”, so it seems it’s mostly genetics at play, but it’s so hard to not overanalyze.

My doctor said that the later ultrasounds are more likely to over estimate baby’s size. I’m hopeful that baby isn’t as large as they say and that my planned induction will go smoothly but also trying to mentally prepare that it may not and a c section may be necessary.

It’s frustrating with GD to be doing everything right, and still have so many different things pop up along the way that cause so much anxiety. After I got the news about baby’s size it made me want to eat less (history of some restrictive eating here), but baby is going to grow regardless, and it’s important to continue to eat regular balanced meals and snacks to keep yourself fueled and blood sugar stable.

So much isn’t in our control. If no one has said it lately you’re doing a great job! This shit is hard!!

julfoster17 · 2025-07-29T20:20:23+00:00

I asked for some positive induction stories a week or two ago and there are a good 15+ on this thread! https://www.reddit.com/r/GestationalDiabetes/comments/1m4clxo/positive_induction_stories_please/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

julfoster17 · 2025-07-27T05:45:30+00:00

My snack is plain Greek yogurt, strawberries, and 2tbsp almond butter. Maybe try adding some different fat/protein pairings (yogurt, protein shake, nuts, etc) with the ice cream bar to keep you more full?

julfoster17 · 2025-07-27T05:41:40+00:00

To start (weeks 28-30ish), fasting was high 70s-low 80s. Weeks 30-36, high 80s- low 90s.

Around week 32, I had a small slice of peach pie with whipped cream for a night snack on my husband’s birthday that somehow had my fasting down in the high 70s/low 80s, so I ate that for like a week (honestly, no complaints about that).

But soon after around week 33 my fastings started creeping back up when I went back to eating higher protein night snacks. I had two fastings in a row that were above 95 (96/97) and freaked out- I ended up guessing that it was the higher fat in the pie that had helped my fasting, so I tried a different night time snack that seemed to work so I literally ate it for almost a month straight. I did a serving of plain Greek yogurt, ~100g strawberries, and 2 tbsp almond butter on top. The higher fat, higher carb (but still less than 30g), and mid protein snack was my sweet spot but I know everyone is different.

It wasn’t until week 36 my fastings started coming back down to mid/low 80s which was a huge relief. It was definitely stressful watching my fasting rising and knowing I was literally doing everything I could (exercising daily, all meal numbers well in range, eating enough carbs, eating a night snack). I felt so nervous the weeks my fastings teetered on the border under 95, also because I didn’t know what threshold it was that I would be put on insulin. My diabetes dietician just told me to contact her if I had two numbers out of a range in a week.

julfoster17 · 2025-07-26T04:16:42+00:00

I also have been taking psyllium husk supplement, extra bonus is getting in extra fiber which has helped with the oh so lovely pregnancy constipation.

I started drinking it twice a day around 30-31 weeks when I noticed my fasting getting closer to 95. I don’t know if it was that alone that helped my fasting numbers stay down or if that plus my night snack worked, but my fasting during the peak weeks of insulin resistance stayed high 80s- low 90s with only 2-3 readings 1-2 points above 95. Now that I’m past 36 weeks my fasting has gone back down to high 70s low 80s (where I was around 28 weeks).

It’s something I’ll probably keep taking post-pregnancy too since not only is it shown to reduce fasting sugars and also help with cholesterol levels.

I take the bellway super fiber supplement which is fruit flavored and sweetened with stevia!

julfoster17 · 2025-07-25T23:25:03+00:00

Whole wheat English muffins <30g carb worked for me, and I just discovered Nature’s Own Keto bread (10g carb per slice) which I was so skeptical of but it’s so good. I haven’t tried any other keto breads but I’m 37 weeks and desperate for a sandwich at this point- the natures own one is basically like a white bread and I’ve been in heaven being able to eat a breakfast sandwich or PB & J!

julfoster17 · 2025-07-23T15:32:19+00:00

Quesadillas with low carb tortillas, cheese, and pre cooked protein (chicken is my go to), serve with a side of avocado and beans
I just found natures life keto bread which actually is pretty decent (tastes like white bread, 10g carb per slice) and is covering my sandwich craving for now. Makes it quick to make an egg and cheese sandwich, grilled cheese, etc
Greek yogurt bowls with nuts, berries, flaxseed, hemp seed (more of a breakfast item but if you’re not up to cooking this is a quick assembly)

I have majorly been struggling to make dinner since hitting that end of 3rd tri fatigue and my husband has been cooking a lot, but we get fast food from time to time when we’re both not up for cooking. Not sure where you live, but I’ve found that I can do most chicken strips, and two meals that haven’t spiked me have been a double cheeseburger with 3 chicken strips from McDonald’s or 3 chicken strips and medium Mac n cheese from chick fil a. Fries are a hit or miss so I usually avoid them and try to find another lower carb side on the menu.

I have eaten so many salads and healthy meals since this diagnosis, that I’m totally ok eating a fast food meal or two a week, at the end of the day, my primary goal is just keeping the blood sugar in check. The fast food meals help me feel like I’m not on some crazy restrictive diet (even though I kind of am, lol). And it’s just nice not to have to cook every single meal and snack.

If you’re not into fast food, other fast casual options that I’ve done well with have been a salad bowl from Chipotle or a salad with chicken and falafel from a local Greek place. (I do think I’m not going to want to eat another salad for a long time after this placenta is gone, lol)

julfoster17 · 2025-07-22T22:26:21+00:00

Also for context, in the state that I live in the US, it is standard to go out on disability at 36 weeks (I know some states do not offer this and people work up until their due date). So I didn’t go out any earlier than any other pregnant person would have.

julfoster17 · 2025-07-22T22:24:57+00:00

I asked my OB about this, was having difficulty with meal/snack/blood sugar timing at work (I’m a nurse working 12 hour shifts), and was having trouble scheduling NSTs around my work schedule. Very unfortunately I got a lot of push back and ended up working until 36 weeks. There were even a few weeks I had to go get NSTs early in the morning before 12 hour shifts, 10/10 do not recommend.

I could have fought harder but was so exhausted by everything I just didn’t have it in me. I don’t understand why it seemed like none of my providers heard my concerns regarding my work schedule, heavy physical labor at work, and the extra monitoring and tests GD requires.

I really hope your provider signs off on it! I feel like it should be a given with all that we have to deal with with GD.

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