Because of all the risks and complications associated with poor control of blood glucose levels during pregnancy it is best to keep them in check all the time. But if there is a time during your pregnancy where it is considered more important to have your blood glucose levels under control it is when you are in labor.


If you have a very high blood glucose level while you are in labor, your baby is going to produce enough insulin to compensate for the sugar in your system. But what happens when your baby is born is he or she is no longer exposed to your high blood sugar and has an excess of insulin in their system. This will cause the baby to be hypoglycemic and can be quite dangerous for the baby.

For this reason, your baby’s blood sugar levels will be tested a few times after the birth. The test is administered immediately after the birth and when the baby is a couple of hours old. The blood is taken from the baby’s heel and is tested in the same manner as when you test your own blood with your glucose monitor.

When you go into labor, do not take any more insulin even if it is time for your next injection. When you go to the hospital be sure to bring your insulin and glucose monitor with you and advise all medical staff of your condition. Your doctor will give you more specific instructions to follow about nutrition and your blood sugar. When you pre-register at the hospital, ensure that you write down on your paperwork that you have gestational diabetes and who your care providers are. The more information you can provide the better the care you will receive when you are admitting to the hospital.

Breakfast Ideas for Women with Gestational Diabetes

Depending on when you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during your pregnancy
(most likely between weeks 24 and 28) you are going to have many weeks of watching
what you eat ahead of you. If you find a meal that you like and works well with your
blood sugars you may be tempted to eat it again (and again and again).

You are going to reach a point where you do not want to even think about a piece of toast
with peanut butter again. And when you do, here are some ideas for a diabetic friendly
breakfast:

* One piece of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter and a
glass of milk
* A bowl of cereal and milk with almonds sprinkled on top
* One egg (cooked to your preference) a piece of toast and a glass of milk
* Natural peanut butter spread on half a banana
* Egg and cheese omelet with your choice of vegetables

Go for quality foods because as you can see, meal sizes are going to be small. By
combining your breakfast foods with a protein you will assist your body in processing the
sugar. The added benefit of the protein is be satiating for a longer period of time. If you
fill up on carbohydrates (which is very easy to do at breakfast) you are going to be
hungry sooner and have a higher blood sugar for your next reading.

As breakfast is going to set the tone for the rest of the day, don’t cheat. If you have a
high-sugar cereal for breakfast, your blood sugar will be elevated for the rest of the day.
After indulging you will have to make up for it during subsequent meals by having less to
even out your blood glucose levels.

Dinner Ideas for Women with Gestational Diabetes

Dinner is the meal of the day when people like the most variety. You don’t want to eat
the same thing each night (pregnant or not). Here is the time to be creative. But a
cookbook or borrow one from the library to stock up on good ideas for dinner
combinations that fit in with your diabetic diet.

The dinner meal traditionally consists of a starch (whole grains, potatoes, and rice), a
vegetable, and a protein. You can be creative in how you combine these elements but
take the appropriate portions. Your dietician will give you guidelines on is considered a
proper portion of meat and other food groups. If you are having difficulty with this, you
may want to consider purchasing or borrowing a food scale until you learn how to judge a
portion size by sight.

Here is a selection of different dinner ideas that can be made:

* Cheese quiche, you can try making one without the crust to cut fat and calories
* Sloppy Joe sandwiches on whole wheat buns topped with shredded cheese (use a
lean or extra ground beef)
* Bell peppers stuffed with rice and ground beef and then baked in the oven
* Use a slow cooker to make a chili or beef stew full of veggies

There are numerous dinner combinations available by mixing up protein choices (fish,
steak, pork chops, and chicken) grains (brown rice, potatoes, pasta, and couscous), and
the various ways to cook vegetables (raw in a salad, steamed, grilled, or boiled).

If you are going out to eat for dinner, don’t be afraid to ask for your food done differently
than what the menu offers. Ask for substitutions and sauces on the side where
appropriate. Most restaurants are flexible and are willing to accommodate special dietary
requirements especially for pregnant women with diabetes.

Eat Small Meals throughout the Day

Eating and pregnancy go hand in hand. Even though it doesn’t seem fair to be pregnant
and not get to eat what and when you want it is healthier for you and your baby. The old
adage of eating for two is true but many women overeat when they are pregnant and gain
more weight than they should.

The more food that you eat in one sitting the harder it is going to be for your body to
produce enough insulin to turn the sugar into energy. Not only is what you eat important
so is the portion sizes. Your doctor or dietician will provide you with a meal plan and it
is wise to follow it as closely as possible.

Since you will be eating smaller meals, you are going to need to eat more frequently to
keep your energy up. The best way to do this is plan on eating six smaller meals
throughout the day. You will keep a steady stream of nourishment going into your body
and if you eat at the same time each day it will make it easier for your body to regulate
insulin production and use.

A schedule that works for many women is to eat a small breakfast and then continue to
eat approximately every two to three hours. This will include a mid-morning snack,
lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, and a bedtime snack. If you are still finding you are
hungry in between meals or are finding ketones when you test your urine, consult with
your doctor or dietician. They are sure to have suggestions to help you make changes
that will work better for you. Such as eating more protein at meals or filling up on more
vegetables (something that can be eaten as a free food at any time).

Gestational Diabetes – Risks for Baby

When you first discover that you have gestational diabetes most likely you are going to
be upset and worried about your baby. There are risks to the baby when a mother has
gestational diabetes but with careful monitoring and strict control of diet and blood
glucose levels these risks can be minimized.

The most frequent complication associated with babies whose mothers have had
gestational diabetes is how big they become. The extra glucose in the mother’s system is
also shared by the baby and the baby creates extra insulin which in turn produces
unneeded fat stores – this is not healthy for the baby and the baby’s size can become
dangerous. A large baby (known as macrosomia) can make labor and delivery more
difficult. The baby can get injured during delivery (shoulder injuries are common) and a
higher percentage of moms with gestational diabetes having a caesarian section.https://needinfors..com/2020/08/gestational-diabetes-risks-for-baby-and.html?m=1

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