Fig Life

I took the test today so now I just wait to see what my results will be for this pregnancy.  Of course, the way the doc talked last week even if my results are negative for gestational diabetes, I might still have a problem.  Oh well, just going to wait and see first.

I went to the OB/GYN yesterday.  I actually have to see a different one almost every time because it’s one of those group practices where you don’t know who will be on call when you go into labor.  That makes sense and I’m sure it’s better for their work life balance, but it can get a bit confusing and inconsistent for the patient.  Anyway, yesterday I finally saw Dr. Q, whom I’d been trying to see for a couple months already.  Every time I had an appointment with her I would wait for ages and then end up seeing someone else.  So I finally met her and she wanted to ask about my previous babies.  They were a bit on the big side (Isaac was 8lb 14oz and Ewan as 9lb 11oz) but she noted I had never been diagnosed as having gestational diabetes (which is often a link to gestational diabetes).  I told her, “No, those tests always came out negative.”  Then I also told her I had excess amniotic fluid both times, which she said was another common sign of diabetes.  Huh.  Then she asked about family history and of course we’ve got more than our fair share of diabetes on my mom’s side of the family.  And lots of fat people, to be honest.  As far as this pregnancy goes, I haven’t had my screening yet (will be doing it next week) so I don’t know yet what that will say, obviously.  However, she told me that with my previous pregnancies I may have had something “very like” gestational diabetes but just not caught by the testing (not quite strong enough or something, I guess).  So she thinks I may want to follow a sort of diabetic diet even if the tests are again negative.  I’m willing and eager to do so if it could give me a chance of having a baby smaller than Ewan.  Lord knows if it’s any bigger I won’t be able to deliver in the usual way (not that I’ve ever delivered in a very usual way – never had anything remotely like an easy birth).

What’s weird is no one ever said anything before about “You know, even though these tests are negative maybe you have an issue anyway?”  This is my third baby, after all.  Of course, I had the first one in Houston and the second one in London and this one will be born in New York, so it’s not like I’ve seen the same doctor or midwife every time (and have I mentioned lately how much I miss my British midwives? ‘Cause I do).  Anyway, it never occurred to me that I might have an issue since my diabetes screenings were always negative, in spite of the large-ish size of my babies.  I always thought it was just a fluke or genetics or luck or something.  Maybe I still don’t have an issue, but it makes sense to be cautious just in case.  Maybe I shouldn’t worry about it until after my screening next week, but it sounds like this doctor thinks I should be concerned even if my screening comes up negative again.

So, time to at least think about it.  I’m wondering if I should just go ahead and find a nutritionist (and wondering how I’ll squeeze in visits with one, especially now that my kids will be out of school later this month).

Anyone had experience with gestational diabetes out there?  Or anyone else ever hear something like “yeah, the tests have been negative but you may have so-and-so anyway?”