Today marks the 36-week of our pregnancy (hello, 9th month!). Yesterday we had our weekly check up, in which we listened to Isla’s heartbeat (and her hiccups- so cute!), reviewed my daily blood sugar results, and took a little peek at our baby girl, via ultrasound. The whole experience was overwhelmingly positive, and I walked away from that appointment feeling as if I was floating on air! Isla’s heartbeat was exceptionally strong (hooray!), Dr. Kong was very pleased with how I’ve controlled my blood sugar levels (a huge relief for this sugar-deprived Mama), and Isla is right on track, head down and weighing in at 5.5lbs. Again, it appears that she is not being affected by my gestational diabetes. SO thankful!!!
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When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes I felt a range of emotions, from fear to denial to frustration. I hated the thought that Isla could suffer developmental problems because of me. Poking myself in the finger four times a day is not the most fun, but the real pain came with the erratic results I kept getting. One day I’d have my breakfast protein shake and my blood sugar results would be well within the healthy range. The next day I’d have the exact same protein shake and my blood sugar levels would spike. What?! Even more concerning was the fact that my fasting blood sugar levels always soared high above where they were supposed to be. I was exercising and eating carefully, doing everything I was supposed to, and I couldn’t get control over those fasting blood sugar levels. The insulin injections were then added into the mix. While I was initially nervous about giving myself the injections, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the needle doesn’t hurt at all (thank you, modern medical advancements!). Finding the right dosage took about a week, but since then, my fasting blood sugar levels haven’t been too high once. I’ve watched my diet closely, monitored every bite I’ve taken, and let me tell you, it was not always fun. Some days I’ll I’ve wanted was a big bowl of ice cream. I mean I REALLY wanted it. But, I wouldn’t allow myself a single bite. As appealing as a sugary treat was, nothing was worth risking the health of our Isla, and receiving such positive feedback at this last appointment was more rewarding than I ever could have imagined… and I know bringing a healthy baby girl into the world will be even more incredible! Far more incredible than any bowl of ice cream!
As I left the appointment this darling (and oh, so appropriate) poem by Jack Prelutsky popped into my head.
