So it's no secret that I'm not a skinny minny. And, well, if you didn't know that by now then you are either blind or are just really good at seeing the beauty inside of me or something like that.
There's a big misconception about being plus sized and pregnant, and that is the likelihood of gestational diabetes. The truth is, everyone is at risk for gestational diabetes when they're pregnant. Everyone. Because guess what? Gestational diabetes is caused by a fluctuation of hormones (oh gee, I think there's something about being pregnant that does that...) and how said fluctuation reacts with your body's ability to process sugar. Nowhere in there does it ever state that plus-sized women will definitely get GD.
Don't get me wrong, the chance is definitely higher when you're plus-sized, but that's not just for GD. That's for diabetes in general. The first thing that doctors say when you're in a higher risk bracket is to lose weight, and there's science behind that. It's not that the doctors don't want to deal with a larger person and the health issues; rather, they don't want YOU to have to deal with the health issues that come from being plus-sized.
Back to specifics though.
Yes, I'm plus-sized and have been for longer than I care to admit (okay, fuck, it's been 10 years). But I'm a lovely medical marvel. Aside from some lovely lactose intolerance and IBS (TMI? DON'T CARE), I'm healthy as a goddamn horse. No thyroid issues, no diabetes, my blood pressure has been great before, after, and during pregnancy, and I've somehow managed to maintain the flexibility and muscle tone from dancing all those years ago. It's just all covered in a substantial layer of skin, stretch marks, and fat.
Now I'm going to have to be a hypocrite. When pregnant with Olivia, I was diagnosed Glucose Intolerant. What does that mean you ask? It's the same thing as being intolerant of other things, like lactose. My body just couldn't process it right. Yes, it's a wimpy version of diabetes. But I'm about 900% sure I brought it on myself. I had squeaked by on a fail on the 1 hour glucose challenge where you don't fast but you aren't supposed to eat for 3 hours prior to the test. So I had to do that pesky 3 hour test where you fast for like 10 hours. I had to do that one at I think 30 weeks pregnant last time, so I woke up first thing in the morning and was pretty sure I was going to pass out if I didn't eat something. So I shoved a piece of bread in my mouth and hoped for the best.
Idiot. I'm an idiot. Carbs = sugar = fucking up the results. Le sigh.
Anyway, all it meant for me was that I tested my sugar levels at regular intervals: first thing in the morning, after meals at 1 hour and after meals at 2 hours. If my levels were a little high, I made a notation that I probably shouldn't eat that item again OR that I need to eat at more regular intervals. I didn't have to report it to anyone, but my doctor would ask for a summary at each of my pre-natal appointments just so that he could keep note of it himself. At 41 weeks and 3 days, I gained a total of 35 lbs, and Olivia was born at 7 lbs 10 oz and no sugar dependency. Which means, hallelujah, keeping track of shit worked.
This time around, I just asked my doctor if I could bump right up to the fasting test. That way if the results came back high or borderline again, I'd know and could just do the same thing I did last time. I did the test on the weekend and will see my doctor next week, so we'll see how that went then.
What brought on this post? I belong to a group of moms from all across Canada who are due in April 2015. The past two weeks have been nothing but "Oh no I have to take the GD test" and "My life is over I failed the 1 hour". And it's taking literally ALL of my willpower not to tell them all to shut the fuck up because it is NOT the end of the goddamn world. You just have to be a little more vigilant in what you eat and when, and make sure that you're not going crazy with the super carby or sugary foods - including those that contain naturally occurring sugars. If you're bad enough, yeah you'll need insulin but again... NOT THE END OF THE GODDAMN WORLD.
But you try using logic in a group of 100+ hormonal pregnant women. I dare you.
