Gestational Diabetes: When carefully controlled, this disorder poses little risk to you and your baby.

What it is: Gestational diabetes — a form of diabetes that appears only during pregnancy — occurs when the body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin (the hormone that lets the body turn blood sugar into energy) to deal with the increased blood sugar of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually begins between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy (which explains why you'll have a glucose screening test at around 28 weeks).

How common is it? Gestational diabetes is fairly common, affecting four to seven percent of expectant women.

Who is most at risk? Older moms-to-be are more at risk of developing gestational diabetes, as are obese women. Women who have a history of diabetes or those who had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy are also at greater risk.

What are the symptoms? Most women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms, though a few may experience extreme thirst, very frequent and very copious urination, or fatigue. You'll also have sugar in the urine (detected at a routine practitioner visit). Your practitioner will probably screen you for gestational diabetes around week 28 of pregnancy. You'll drink a sugary liquid and then take a blood test an hour later. If your blood sugar level is high, you'll take a three-hour glucose tolerance test to determine whether you have gestational diabetes.

Should you be concerned? There's little reason for concern if your gestational diabetes is well controlled. Your pregnancy will progress normally and your baby will suffer no ill effects. But if gestational diabetes is left untreated, your baby will receive too much blood sugar and grow too large, making delivery more difficult for you. It could also lead to potential problems for your baby after birth, such as jaundice, breathing difficulties, and low blood sugar levels. Later in life your child will be at an increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. And though gestational diabetes goes away after delivery, you are also at an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life if you've had gestational diabetes.

What you can do: Keeping an eye on your weight gain (both before and during pregnancy) can help prevent gestational diabetes. So too can good diet habits and regular exercise. If you're diagnosed with gestational diabetes, scrupulous control of blood sugar levels will mitigate the potential risks associated with the condition. Your practitioner will likely put you on a special diet (similar to the Pregnancy Diet) and will suggest simple exercises to keep your gestational diabetes under control.

Source: www.whattoexpect.com

At this next regular check up appointment, I will be tested for Gestational Diabetes. I've been told some horror stories on the solution to drink! Here's more on what it is:

Glucose Tolerance Test

Gestational diabetes sure ain't sweet — but it is manageable. Here are the details on glucose screening and diagnostic tests.

What it screens for: A one-hour glucose test screens for (but does not diagnose) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). If your sugar levels seem high after a one-hour test, you'll have to come back for the three-hour version, which will give you a firm diagnosis. Gestational diabetes can usually be controlled with a special diet and exercise. (In rare cases, women need insulin to regulate their sugars during pregnancy.)

Who it's for: Most practitioners routinely screen all pregnant women for gestational diabetes. Some screen only women at higher risk for the disorder, including those who are obese or have a family history of diabetes.

How it's done: First, you drink a special glucose (aka sugar) mixture (think flat soda). Then you sit and wait (be sure to bring some reading!). Some practitioners may give you the mixture in advance of that particular appointment, so you arrive primed and ready to be pricked (just don't be late!). Exactly one hour later, your blood is drawn and tested for glucose. A high level of glucose at this point doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes; it just means you need the next test. For that tolerance test, you will be asked to fast overnight. Your blood will be drawn in the morning, and then you drink a different glucose mixture. Your blood will be drawn three more times, at one, two, and three hours later. (Triple the fun!)

Source: www.whattoexpect.com

I now have the "preggo head" full-on and can't remember much. I'm surprised I haven't screwed up royally at work or missed a mtg.

Here's the dates, so far, of all the regular doctor visits:

1) 3/27/08 - first, 'confirmation' visit. Internal Ultrasound at I think 10 weeks. My doc doesn't have you come in until around then, so that she can confirm the baby's heartbeat. Never did ask why, specifically, but I think it has to do w/ a lot of Nervous Nellies (I'm one of 'em) parading through her office too early to tell anything concrete. Smart doc; I'd have been in there way before, right after my home pregnancy test! Check weight and pee in a cup too. W/ the internal ultrasound, could hear the baby's heart beat. Paul took video/audio on his phone. I think it became a bit more concrete then.

2) 4/10 - Appt #2. Regular check up. Weight check up and pee in a cup. More info from doc; nurse tries to hear heartbeat w/ a 'doppler radar' or some such gadget but she couldn't get it. Doc came and in it took her awhile too, but she finally got it.

3) 4/11 - SPECIALIST APPT - referral to genetic counselor. Concerned about Down Syndrome because of my age; this doc does the testing. She sends all her patients who might need this to this guy. Very nice doc - been an OB/GYN for years and years, still has a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado Denver and teaches. Most of his time he does genetic testing.

4) 4/18 - SPECIALIST APPT - This is the 'nuchal translucency' testing w/ the blood work. A specialized ultrasound tech did this ultrasound - went over all the baby's parts to make sure they were there; looked for Down Syndrome markers (and apparently could not see any at this stage!) and went over how the whole test works.

5) 5/8 - Appt. #3 - Regular check up. Weight check and pee in a cup. Again listen to baby heart beat w/ hand-held doppler device. More news and what to expect.

6) 6/10 - Appt. #4 - ANATOMY ULTRASOUND!!! Looking good! Again Paul took video/audio w/ his phone. Got real pics at this one; pretty cool! Doc not in the office today, come back in two days for visit w/ her.

6a) 6/12 - Appt. #4a - Regular check up w/ doc cuz she wasn't in the office on 6/10. Everything tracking normal so far. Can't recall how many weeks here - you do the math from 3/27.

7) 6/27 - SPECIALIST APPT - the doc wanted me to get a 'fetal echogram' to be sure that baby's heart is developing A-OK at my 'advanced maternal age'. This is a DETAILED look at the baby's heart; again looking for markers for Down Syndrome and/or possible defects that are detectable at this stage. I think I was 19 weeks. Doc reviewed, and could not tell any DS markers nor defects at this time! Great news! Paul went to this one too; pretty darn cool to see that little one moving around in there!

8) 7/10 - Appt. #5 - Regular check up. Weight check and pee in a cup. Measured my belly again; I must be right on at this stage cuz she didn't mention a thing. I think 25 weeks. Did I say that someone figured out that the measurement of your uterus in cm is the same as the # of weeks along you should be. I should research that and post an article!

9) 8/7 - Coming up - Appt. #6 - Gestational Diabetes screening test. Drink a horrible glucose solution and then 1 hr later take a blood test. If I fail this one, based on the blood test results, then I go in for a longer, more intense testing appointment. If I pass, then I'm good to go; no further testing; keep watching what I eat!

10) and more: After 8/7 - doc says I need to go every two weeks. So, let's see.... that means Aug 21 or so....Sept 4 and 18....then 1 x per week up until delivery: Oct 2 or so, then every week in October. Yeah, can't wait. I'm a little tired of doctor visits already.

I KNOW - QUIT YER BELLYACHIN'!!! All for the safety of this kid!

Hiya folks. Sorry about the lack of updates around here, but we've been busy. I'm working on expanding and updating other web sites of ours, while trying to keep all the other ones updated (yes, there are even more sites than those three and this one -- ack!).

Anyway, to get on topic real quick, Amy's doing well with the incubation of our kid. She'll have to talk about things from her perspective (I'll bug her about it), but things have been pretty smooth in general. We had thought there would be another ultrasound appointment (and I really looked forward to it) but our Dr. doesn't do one at this stage unless there's a problematic reason to do so.

Well, I just needed to drop a note here. Again, we'll really try to get things rolling on here. We are swamped with work and such, but we need to get this thing going.

Thanks for visiting!
--Paul

My entire family - on my side - came to visit me, except my older brother, for this whole weekend because my cousin got married in Vail.

An awesome trip, tho way too many people for my small house, but that's ok. Lot's of good time w/ my sis and her 4-yr old twins. That was interesting.

An entirely super visit - a family reunion of sorts of my Dad's side of the family - his sisters were there, whom he hardly ever gets to spend time with. He and my mom were able to spend LOTS of time with them! I haven't seen them in a really long time, either.

Nice to catch up with my cousins, too!

However, they all WORE ME OUT! I thought I had energy. I guess not so much.

Went up to the mountains for a family visit and wedding. I found out that I have REAL, SUPER trouble w/ altitude!!!!

My father-in-law is on oxygen 24/7; and he offered for me to have some. He's got several types of nifty portable oxygen carrier-thingys.

SO I DID!

ABSOLUTELY HELPED!!

Before I turned it on, I couldn't breathe well, my ankles swelled up really fast, I could not hardly make it to the top of their staircase (full staircase)....felt like I had just finished a 2 hour hard muscle work out! Not breathing heavy, but I could hardly move my legs!

Then, I sucked some air. Yep, the good stuff.

Blamo - felt better! It's a good thing, because this wedding ceremony was at the top of Vail Mountain, on what they call the "Wedding Deck", which is something like 11,000 feet. Had to walk there too; that wasn't too much fun, but at least I could walk (i.e., move my legs) better! No, I didn't wear high heels!

I thought it was funny. Perhaps you had to be there. Can you visualize my predicament? Let me know and I'll try to be more descriptive.

:-)

Details, details! This special ultrasound gives you a very specific glimpse of your growing baby.
What it screens for: The ultrasound anatomy scan, or level 2 ultrasound, is an amazingly interesting experience for parents-to-be. Your baby will be measured from crown to rump (and what a cute rump it is!), around his/her middle, around his/her head — and that's just for starters. The four chambers of the heart will be viewed, as well as the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine, and sex organs (be sure to tell your sonographer if you don't want to know what he or she sees — or doesn't see!).

Measurements are taken to make sure your baby is growing appropriately (and that his or her gestational age is still on target). A survey of the organs, including the umbilical cord, ensures that they are developing normally (or identifies any potential problems as soon as possible). The sonographer will also be looking at your amniotic fluid levels, the location of the placenta, and the fetal heart rate. Settle in to enjoy the show: The detailed level 2 scan can take 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how cooperative your little one wants to be during the photo shoot).

Who it's for: Most practitioners order a level 2 ultrasound for all their moms-to-be.

How it's done: You recline on an exam table with your belly exposed. A sonographer applies gel and then moves the transducer over your abdomen. As sound waves emitted from the transducer bounce off "structures" inside (like your baby's adorable face!), images are formed on a video screen. To get the most comprehensive assessment, the sonographer will be aiming for many different views from lots of different angles in this scan. When the technician gets a clear shot, he or she will freeze-frame the picture (that's the actual sonogram) and then measure the anatomy. You can expect to go home with one or two good sonogram pictures (the perinatologist and your practitioner will review the rest).

When it's done: Most level 2 ultrasounds are performed between 18 and 22 weeks. If you have a condition that needs to be monitored (such as carrying twins), you may have more than one detailed ultrasound.

Risks: There are no significant risks associated with ultrasounds, though medical guidelines caution against unnecessary exposure to ultrasound — which is why your practitioner will schedule only a handful of them throughout your pregnancy.

Source: www.whattoexpect.com

A Doppler fetal heart rate monitor is a device used to detect the heart rate of a fetus without any invasive monitoring. The monitor looks like a little microphone and is pressed against the woman's abdomen. The monitor is moved around while the main device plays an audible signal that sounds a bit like you'd expect from a stethoscope (you've all played with a stethoscope, haven't you?? If not, ask to play with one the next time you go to the doctor. They're cool!)

The monitor is actually measuring the passage of blood in the fetus, and simulating an audible heart beat from the readings. I've decided a way to "spell" what this sounds like:

"ka-pshew, ka-pshew, ka-pshew..." (yeah, I'm a nerd. Get used to it. :P )

It's really awesome to hear, I think.

Here's a page on Wikipedia discussing in more deal what the Doppler fetal monitor does.