Gestational Diabetes

A few days ago a girlfriend of mine went to the doctors to take a dreaded test... the glucose tolerance test.  The glucose tolerance test is done around the 26th to 28th week of pregnancy.  If your doctor has reason, such as history of diabetes or pre pregnancy weight being very high, the test will be done prior to the 13th week and repeated at 28 weeks.  A glucose tolerance test is done to see if you have gestational diabetes.  Some people think that if you have diabetes you are overweight.  That is not necessarily the case.  She only weighs 138 pounds at almost 30 weeks gestation.  She was asking me a slew of questions because it wasn’t clearly explained to her through her doctor and her first test came back a bit high.  She wanted to know: What exactly is gestational diabetes? Will this hurt the baby? Am I going to have diabetes after pregnancy? Do I need insulin? How did I get this? Do I need to lose weight? Am I going to be able to deliver the baby naturally? Could the test have been wrong!  With all these questions being asked by her, I figured many other women would have the same questions.  I know I did when I was pregnant and I learned from extensive research through my studies and doctors.  

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.  It is tested by getting a blood draw, drinking a sugary, syrupy substance, then waiting an hour and getting more blood drawn.  The body absorbs the glucose very quickly which causes the blood glucose levels to raise within the hour you are waiting.  The blood is taken to measure how well the body has processed this overdose of glucose.  Every state has a different “norm” for the blood glucose level.  Some state say if your number comes back less than 140mg/dL form the 1 hour glucose screening you are in the clear.  Where we are, the blood glucose level is supposed to be less than 130mg/dL.  If in the event your number comes back high, chances are your doctor or midwife will order to have a 3 hour glucose screening done.  The 3 hour test is a bit more intolerable than the 1 hour.  You must fast from midnight to when the test is done, you get blood drawn at the fasting point to see what the levels are, then drink, wait an hour and blood gets drawn again, then do this 2 more times.  Your office will give you the exact instructions if you need to do this screening.

There is no EXACT cause for gestational diabetes, but it is known that the placenta, which is a source of your baby’s growth, does alter the way your body uses insulin when you have gestational diabetes.  If your body can not properly use and create insulin then it can lead to greater issues like hyperglycemia.  

Gestational diabetes can cause harm to your baby IF it is not properly monitored with intense cases. With gestational diabetes, any extra glucose will go through the placenta.  This will give the baby high blood glucose levels causing the baby to have extra insulin, more than necessary for their little bodies to grow, it will store as fat, leading to an overweight baby.

For most women, you will be put on a strict diet to keep your numbers down and all is good.  You may or may not end up going in for an induction do keep the baby from getting too big.  It depends on your doctor or midwife and what they feel is best.  More than not, all is fine and you will have your gorgeous healthy baby at the proper gestation.  So many women mistake induction for a c-section, they are different, and just because you may be induced does not mean you need to have a section.

I hope this answered some of your questions and helps to keep you informed!  Stay healthy, eat right, exercise and enjoy being pregnant! From this point on, it is over before you know it.

You've Been Marked!

So many things are happening to your body internally from the time you conceive.  Not only are there changes happening on the inside, but on the out as well.  In some women you will notice changes in your face, nose, lips, hair, and your skin.  The biggest change you will find is in your skin.  Some women are lucky enough to get stretch marks.

Stretch marks are when the elastic fibers under the skin’s surface break.  This results in purple or white lines that form on your body when your body is growing and your skin isn’t able to keep up.  Some people who gain weight in a short span of time may notice them.  In pregnancy, with your belly growing and your breasts growing if your skin doesn’t have enough elasticity to keep up with the growth you will see what is known as stretch marks.  You will most likely find them on your belly or breasts, but they can also form on your thighs, bum, lower back, and under arms.

When I was pregnant people kept telling me to rub cocoa butter all over my body to help prevent stretch marks.  The brutal reality is you can not prevent them.  It depends on the elasticity of your skin and genetics does play a part, if your mom had them you are at greater risk of getting them.  Though you can not prevent them, using lotions is certainly something you can do to keep them under control while you are expanding to make room for your little nugget.  Keeping the skin hydrated will help with the itchiness you may have from the skin stretching.  When you scratch the skin it will make the stretch marks worse.

The good news is after the pregnancy some of the stretch marks will eventually fade. They never really go away but they can fade to a faint line that blends more with the skin; however, there are some marks that remain front and center.  Since they can not be prevented, if you are lucky enough to get them, focus on helping them fade post pregnancy rather than trying to prevent them from happening.

Here are some ways to help stretch marks fade after the baby is born and improve your skins elasticity.

Massage the skin.  By massaging the skin with natural lubricants you will be helping the elasticity in your skin which will at the very least help in the color of the marks.  A few lubricants that are beneficial to use are:

• Almond Oil
• Alive Oil
• Aloe Vera
• Cocoa Butter
• Shea Butter
• Vitamin E Lotion

Drink plenty of water.  Water helps keep your skin healthy which should help your skin recuperate from the stress that it’s endured.

Exfoliate the skin.  By exfoliating the skin you will be getting rid of dead cells allowing the skin new skin to breath.  This will help with itchiness and will help the marks fade over time.  To avoid spending a ton of money on exfoliators that have a bunch of chemicals in them you can make some exfoliators at home.  Sugar is an excellent exfoliator and you can usually find it right in your kitchen.  If you add a bit of olive oil or almond oil and some lemon juice to the sugar you now have the paste-like substance you need to exfoliate.  When you shower gently massage this over the necessary areas for a couple of minutes and rinse it off.

Rub lemon over the trouble spots.  Cut a lemon in half and rub the lemon all over any trouble spots you find.  Lemon is an awesome way of rejuvenating your skin.  The acidity from the lemon helps fade any redness and helps repair the damaged skin.

Take a bath.  Not just any bath, add some sea salt to your tub of warm water.  The salt water will help excrete the toxins from your skin.  Sit in the salt water for at least 30 minutes once a week.

Carrots are your best friend.  Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin C which is great for keeping your skin fresh, healthy and beautiful.  You can drink carrot juice or make a paste to rub on your marks.  Mix the carrot drink with some sea salt or sugar and massage into the skin, allow it to dry before you rinse.

These are just some helpful tips on how to help fade the marks you may have gotten from your pregnancy.  I don’t recommend using any over the counter stretch mark creams during your pregnancy other than simple vitamin E lotion or cocoa butter because there are chemicals in any stretch mark cream that can be harmful to your baby.  Give some of these a shot and take some before and after pictures and see if your marks improved.  My stretch marks definitely have faded after 4 months of using these remedies.  If you find that they are not fading and are still very prominent the best advice I can give is embrace them and own them.  You earned those tiger stripes and it is a beautiful memory of the bond you have with your baby.

Where Did I Put Those Darn Glasses?

Have you been feeling forgetful lately? Maybe you were looking for your glasses, while they were on your face?  Or you thought you lost your phone so you tried calling it with your phone.  Maybe, you even locked yourself in your car.  This is called pregnancy brain.  Some women experience a complete haze during their pregnancy and don’t really know why.  Our dear friend progesterone is acting up again causing this temporary forgetfulness.  

I can recall working at a restaurant where I normally was the hostess.  I filled in on a few  occasions for the bartender because I had my license and previously worked as a bartender.  I had filled in at least 5 times at this particular restaurant on fairly busy nights, no big deal.  One night towards the end of my working days and into my bed resting days I was asked again to fill in.  I was so flustered and overwhelmed that I forgot how to make some of the drinks that I could have made in my sleep prior.  A man came in and asked for a vodka gimlet, my mind was in such a cloud I could remember how to make it...one of the simplest drinks to make!  I was so overwhelmed and felt so foolish because I couldn’t remember something so simple.  This was just one instance that happened, but so many things occurred that caused my boss to come over and say “You’ve done this before, right?” I explained that it was the pregnancy and I was just so flustered.  No one told me anything like this was going to happen. Luckily the woman who normally bartended became a good friend of mine and recently had a baby.  She explained to me it was totally normal.

Having pregnancy brain can effect your everyday activities.  It did in my own experience and some of my girlfriends as well.  It was so embarrassing that I couldn’t remember things and found myself getting flustered in a job I once was great at.  For so many women, this is the case.  Pregnancy brain can have different effects on women from forgetting where you put your glasses to rendering you unable to perform your duties effectively at work.

There are a few factors that contribute to this pregnancy brain and it is thought that if you change some habits it will help.

Get sleep!

You must make sure you get the proper amount of rest.  I know this can be difficult when you are uncomfortable, sick or constantly having to wake up to run to the bathroom, but do your best to get sleep.  Even not pregnant it is hard to function without a good amount of rest.

Eat a good diet!

In previous posts I have discussed nutrition and how important it is for your baby to get in the right nutrients and vitamins.  It is equally as important for you! Certain foods can also benefit your memory even outside of pregnancy.  Blueberries have been proven through studies to improve any short term memory loss, so stock up on the berries!  Also, tomatoes which contain lycopene, an antioxidant, that is known to help with memory.  Be sure to get in your recommended daily allowance of zinc which is 11 mg during pregnancy.  This will benefit both you and your baby’s brain.  To see more on nutrition and what foods give you certain nutrients and what they are good for check out an earlier post by me, Nutrition Is The Key, http://helpmomstone.blogspot.com/2014/02/nutrition-is-key.html.

Exercise!

Do your best to get some kind of physical activity in during the day.  I know certain circumstances may prevent you from this but do your best, it will make a big difference.  Exercise will help keep circulation flowing, release endorphins, and decrease fatigue.  With the circulation going, endorphins flowing and not being so tired you will have an overall better mental health.

Drink as much as you can!

Get in as much fluid as you can to avoid dehydration.  The last thing you want is an upset in your electrolytes.  Any disturbance to electrolytes can cause some confusion and decrease memory.  Keep the fluids flowing.  If you find you can’t drink that much make sure what you can drink counts.  Try gatorade or vitamin water, anything with electrolytes.  One tip is if you are drinking gatorade or any sugary drinks that have electrolytes be careful and try to get low sugar drinks.

Take your prenatal vitamins!

Be sure you are taking your prenatals to be confident that your getting vitamins and minerals in for you and your baby.  

The upside to this is your mind will return to its original state a few months after giving birth.  You will find yourself still having this pregnancy brain after birth, but you have now graduated to new mommy brain.  Try and have a sense of humor about the whole thing because otherwise you will get incredibly frustrated.  Know it is completely normal and hang in there!

Nutrition Is The Key!

While pregnant it is so important to get in all the nutrition and vitamins you can. You will see RDA with each, this stands for recommended daily allowance.  Here is a list of all the nutrients and vitamins to keep you and your baby happy and healthy during your pregnancy.

1.) Potassium:

This will help keep your blood pressure on track and help with fluid balance.  The RDA for pregnancy is 4,700 mg.  The best foods that contain potassium are: 

• spinach
• lentils
• sweet potatoes
• yogurt
• banana
• cantaloupe
• broccoli

2.) Riboflavin:

This will help with your energy levels! Most women get that fatigue which happens within the first and last trimester of pregnancy.  This will help your body use the protein gathered from food and produce energy.  The RDA for pregnant women is 1.4mg.  The best food that contain riboflavin are:

• Raisin Bran Cereal
• Yogurt
• Mushrooms
• Cottage Cheese
• Milk(1%)

3.) Vitamin B6:

This is an immune system booster.  It will help produce protein for new cells and help for red blood cells.  The RDA is 1.9 mg.  The bests foods that contain Vitamin B6 are:

• Beef
• Chicken Breast
• Pork Tenderloin
• Halibut

4.) Vitamin B12:

Another energy booster! This will help your body use fats and carbohydrates productively for energy.  It also helps produce red blood cells. The RDA for pregnancy is 2.6 mcg.  The best foods that contain vitamin B12 are:

• Salmon
• Rainbow Trout
• Tuna (Be careful about mercury)
  

5.) Vitamin C:
This is a dynamite vitamin. It helps your body ease the absorption of iron, helps in the growth of bones and teeth, and is an immunity kicker.  It also keeps your red blood cells healthy.  The RDA for pregnancy is 85 mg, be careful not to exceed 2,000 mg.  The best foods that contain vitamin C are:

• Strawberries
• Grapefruit
• Broccoli
• Oranges
• Tomato

6.) Vitamin D:

This will help you and your baby immensely.  It helps your baby use the calcium to have healthy strong bones and teeth.  It also helps your body absorb calcium to strengthen your bones and teeth.  The RDA for pregnancy is 600 IU (international units), be careful not to exceed 4,000 IU.  Some people are vitamin D deficient, if this is the case it is determined by a blood test and your doctor or mid wife will deal accordingly by putting you on a temporary added dose of vitamin D.  The best ways to get vitamin D are:

• Sun exposure
• The yolk of eggs
• Milk
• Fortified Orange juice

7.) Calcium:
This will help build your baby’s bones and teeth.  Due to the fact that your baby is taking everything necessary from you, you will need to replenish your body with added calcium to keep your bones and teeth healthy.  It could also help with the prevention of high blood pressure when pregnant.  There is something called gestational hypertension which you need to look out for in pregnancy. The RDA for calcium is 1,000 mg, be careful not to exceed 2,500 mg.  The best ways to get calcium are:

• Yogurt
• Milk
• Cheddar cheese
• Tofu
• Cottage cheese
• Kale
• Spinach
• Okra
• Soy beans

8.) Choline:
This will benefit both you and your baby.  It helps your baby’s brain development and spinal cord development.  It can help in the prevention of problems with the brain and spinal cord like neural tube defect.  Choline will also help you have strong bones and is another way to help keep the blood pressure down.  The RDA for pregnancy is 450 mg, be careful not to exceed 3,500 mg.  Some foods that include choline are:

• Eggs
• Pork tenderloin
• Ground beef
• Salmon
• Chicken
• Broccoli or cauliflower
  

9.) Docosahexaenoic Acid
Docosahexaenoic acid you find in most prenatal vitamins, it is known as DHA.  DHA is important to the brain and vision development.  Also, DHA will help you in the future.  It could reduce your risk of heart disease.  The RDA for pregnancy is 300 mg.  Some great foods that contain DHA are:

• Coho salmon
• Blue crab
• Canned tuna
• Fortified eggs -- 85 mg to 200 mg

**Just a note about eating fish, you want to be careful about the mercury in fish.  Be sure if you are going to eat it, it is fresh.**

10.) Folic Acid
This is what helps prevent miscarriage and premature delivery.  It also helps protect your baby against any spinal cord birth defects during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some of the most common are, encephalocele, when there is an abnormal in the skull pushing the brain tissue to the skin, anencephaly, underdevelopment of the brain, and spina bifida, an incomplete closure of the spine. It is also great in the prevention of anemia. The RDA for folic acid is 600 mcg.  Some yummy ways to get folic acid into your diet are:

• Lentils
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Cantaloupe

**If you are planning to get pregnant it would benefit you greatly to consume 400 mcg daily prior to becoming pregnant.**

10.) Iron:
This will help prevent premature delivery and anemia while pregnant.  The RDA for pregnancy is 27 mg.  Be very careful not to exceed 45 mg, you can overdose on iron.  Make sure you are getting iron levels checked with your doctor or midwife.  The best foods that contain iron are:

• Cheerios
• Beef
• Lamb
• White meat chicken

11.) Zinc
This helps with brain development in your baby.  It will also help you with that awful fatigue you have while pregnant! It is crucial to grow and repair cells and produce energy.  The RDA for pregnancy is 11 mg, be careful not to exceed 40 mg.  The best ways to get zinc into your diet are:

• Beef
• Crab
• Pork
• White beans
• Yogurt

These are just some nutrition tips to get in all your vitamins necessary to have a happy and healthy pregnancy.  It is important to keep up on taking your prenatal vitamins because they do contain all of these at a proper amount to guide your baby in his or her growth.