33 Weeks Pregnant - PCOS, Pregnancy and Diet Part II

When I was pregnant with C I was advised that because of my PCOS I was at increased risk of getting Gestational Diabetes (GD).  I therefore was very conscious of what I ate throughout that pregnancy and did extensive research and experimentation into what food combinations I could and could not eat.  I summarised my findings in a blog post at the time.

I am proud to say I managed to keep GD at bay throughout that pregnancy despite the fact I could see my blood sugar was being effected by what I ate.  I am less proud to say that I was less cautious, and possibly a bit blase in this current pregnancy haven't escaped previously.  I had not been paying much attention to what I was eating and as long as the Midwife was finding no sugar in my urine I thought I was in the clear.  I was brought down to earth with a bump at my 31 week midwife appointment when I was informed I was measuring 2 weeks bigger than average.  If this trend continued into my next appointment and I was measuring anything greater than 3 weeks bigger then I needed to be referred for a GD test.

Knowing I have insulin resistance issues and convinced I would fail a GD test if made to take it, this was the wake up call I needed.  Not only does GD carry and whole list of potential complications for both mother and baby, it would also scupper any chances of me being able to give birth in our local Midwifery unit. After a difficult labour with C in the main labour ward, I was determined to have a different experience this time.

I reread my original blog post, dredged some old info from the back of my brain, and for the 2 weeks between my appointments ate very sensible.  I should emphasise this was not about dieting.  No-one should be dieting at 30+ weeks pregnant.  It was about eating sensible combinations of foods that were least likely to effect my blood sugar.  I tested my blood sugar after every meal and was managing to keep it in check.

Today was my 33 week appointment with the Midwife.  In other words D-Day, where I would find out if bump was moving further away from his ideal growth curve or whether I was able to bring things into check.   At 31 weeks my fundal height was 33cm.  Today anything higher than 36cm would mean immediate referral.  Amazingly I measured 34cm, only 1cm above average!  I am so relieved!!!  I discussed with the midwife whether there was any benefit in getting me tested anyway but she was more than happy with my measurements combined with my urine sample and said there were no reasons for referral.

It really does show you how much diet can influence the health of some women with PCOS, and in my case how easy it was to rectify using the knowledge I had picked up in my previous pregnancy. Now I am in a routine, it should be no issue to carry on eating this way for the remainder of the pregnancy and I want to try really hard not to let things slip after the birth as well.

I am under no illusions that blue bump will be a small baby but at least this is something that just DH and I need to consider when writing my birth plan.  It does not require any further medical intervention at this stage.  I now do not need to see the Midwife again until I am 36 weeks.  By this time in my my first pregnancy, baby C was already a few days old.  That is definitely a scary thought!