Skinny Cow...

Craving sweets on a low carb diet SUCKS!!! But I found the loophole...

Skinny Cow No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches... they are going to get me through this diet :)

Ok so they have 140 calories but they only have 30 grams of carbs! Which means I can have one for my evening snack and not feel the least bit guilty :) 

YUM-O!!!!

Stupid Gestational Diabetes!

My apologies for not posting sooner about the gestational diabetes diagnosis but I wanted to wait until after my second appointment with my nutritionist to make sure I had a good understanding of what I was dealing with.

It all started with this post. I was feeling VERY defeated, mostly because I had a very misconstrued idea of what gestational diabetes was. I thought it was my fault, I thought I had done something wrong, and worst of all I thought I had failed.

Last Thursday I had my first consultation with my new nutritionist. First off she took my weight (up almost 15 lbs) and my blood sugar (73) both of which were normal. Then she taught me how to use my new glucose monitor - good thing it's pretty easy and (fairly) painless since I'd be doing it 4 times a day; fasting before I ate breakfast for the day, then 1 hour after each breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My new best friend.
Photo Credit

Here's some information I found from the American Diabetes Association that I found really helpful:

"Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year.

We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

How gestational diabetes can affect your baby

Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy.

However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes."

Since my blood sugar levels were only slightly elevated at both my 1hr and 3hr glucose testings my nutritionist hopes we can keep my blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone. I'm very thankful for this because if things are too abnormal or can't be controlled with diet and exercise alone then I'd be forced to give myself insulin shots! Let's hope we can keep things in check! I am to eat about every 3 hours and include protein at every meal and snack and I have been following a 2000 calorie diet of 6 meals a day that look like this:

• Breakfast = 30 grams of carbs
• AM Snack = 15 grams of carbs
• Lunch = 45 grams of carbs
• PM Snack = 30 grams of carbs
• Dinner = 45 grams of carbs
• Evening Snack = 30 grams of carbs

I've never been one to follow a strict diet or count carbs and calories so when I first read my plan I questioned how in the world I'd be able to do this. I'm also supposed to test my blood sugar 4 times a day which I have to tell you is mildly annoying but if these things are the least I have to do to keep myself and Landon healthy then I'm not going to complain and I'm going to stick to it. Lets just say I have a new appreciation for those nutritional labels!!! :)

When I get up in the morning before I eat anything I have to test and my number has to be below 95. I also have to test 1 hour after each main meal and my number needs to be below 130. Two high numbers in a row and I am to call my nutritionist.

The first night I had all my information my testing didn't go so well - I ate what I thought was a fairly healthy dinner and I went over 130 - I immediately knew this was going to take a lot more work so I vowed day 2 would be better and it was. I did research, I started tracking every bite I ate into my Sparkpeople.com account, I went grocery shopping for healthy and low carb food options and my numbers have been in check for the last week.

I had my follow up meeting today with my nutritionist where she went over what I've been eating and where my numbers have been for the last week. All is well! She was very impressed at how seriously I was taking it and how well I've been doing. She weighed me again and I'm actually down 4 lbs?! Not that I'm trying to lose weight but that was shocking to me that even while Landon is growing (I feel like my belly sticks out further every day now) that I still managed just by eating right to lose weight. She did mention that I should be trying to get about 300 more calories than I've been allowing myself and that I should be exercising more. But other than that I'm on track and as long as my numbers continue to be normal I shouldn't have to meet with her in person again. I do have weekly check in's but I just have to e-mail her my numbers every Wednesday.

I honestly have to say I was 100% completely wrong about GD - I was convinced I didn't have it, that the glucose testings were wrong and that I was already eating healthy. I wasn't - but now that I am I feel great! Its amazing how much more energy I have.

With that, I will leave you with what thebump.com says Landon is up to this week... we are now 31 Weeks!!!

Baby's now the size of a squash!
Baby's going through major brain and nerve development these days. His irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (He won't pick up anything from his nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)

Baby Shower!

I got so caught up in Glucose Hell that I completely forgot to post about my fabulous baby shower that my mom & my sister threw for me!!! It was Jan 17th at my mom's house and we had so much fun.

First of all, they went with mexican food - which I of course couldn't get enough of! Between the Cornbread Taco Casserole (which I still need the recipe for mom!!), taquitos, chips, salsa, and guac... lets just say I'm glad I hadn't gotten my Gestational Diabetes diagnosis beforehand!!!

The first game we played was a baby word scramble - I was not so saavy at unscrambling even the easiest of words but who knew what a Layette was anyway??? Is that like a bassinett???

Second game was HILARIOUS - my sister took newborn diapers and melted a different candy bar in each. They then get passed around and everyone has to guess which candy bar is in each... via smell, texture and **ahem** taste (for the oh so brave!). So funny...

Then they had everyone take a piece of yarn to guess how big I am around my belly... all I have to say is I'm glad we didn't have the shower 6 weeks down the road as some of you may just have been right - but for now... THANKS GUYS... THANKS! :)

And... PRESENTS!!!! Seriously I'm so thankful for everything everyone picked out. I can't wait for Landon to make use of everything!

And last but not least - I'll leave you with the best picture of the day... I love my dad! :)

Failure...

Hmm... I just got the call - I failed the 3 hour test - I have gestational diabetes. 

I am in shock - what did I do wrong? I've only gained 13 lbs, I wasn't overweight to begin with, I eat pretty healthy, I exercise... ok not enough but I still get it in... 

I know I should be happy that this is the only bump that's really come up so far but I can't help it - I'm so upset. I think a lot of why I'm upset is cause I don't eat like crap but they made me follow that stupid EFFING carb overload diet for three days and now I have to go to a nutritionist who's going to judge me right off the bat thinking I eat like sh!t and am a lazy a$$. Maybe not... all I know is that since I'm already eating pretty healthy - my gym membership is going to be getting a lot more use.

Glucose Hell... part duex!

Well, I've officially experienced the worst part of my pregnancy thus far... the 3 hour glucose test.

If you remember from this post, I failed my 1 hour glucose screening at my 28 week appointment so last Friday Dr. C sent me the instructions for the follow up 3 hour long test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. Here's what she sent me:

"In order to prepare your body, we would like you to 'overload' your system on carbohydrates before the testing time. For three days preceding the scheduled test, your diet should include an additional 300 grams of carbs each day. Please note that this is in addition to what you normally eat. In order to do this you will probably need to have large snacks several time a day! We prefer you eat a variety of carbohydrates, not all just sweets.
The night before the test, do not eat or drink anything except plain water 12 hours prior to the test. The test will start with drawing a blood sample. You will then be given a sweet drink with a measured amount of glucose in it. You will have 5 minutes to drink this. The test is timed and will start when you complete the drink. Blood will be drawn hourly until designated hours (3) are up. You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything during this time, but are encouraged to drink water."

So, Tuesday morning I start the carb overload... and I didn't realize how hard this would be until I started looking at labels and the example sheet that Dr. C also gave me.

Food	Amount	Carb grams	Food	Amount	Carb grams
1 % fat milk	1 cup	12	yogurt fruited	1 cup	40
Bran Chex	2/3 cup	23	yogurt fruit	1 cup	19
Frosted Flakes	3/4 cup	26	Raisin Bran	3/4 cup	28
fruit juice	1/2 cup	15	bread/toast	1 slice	15
banana	1/2	15	sugar	1 tsp.	4
pancake syrup	2 Tbsp.	30	pancakes - 4	2	15
low-fat granola	1/2 cup	30	sugar-free syrup	2 Tbsp.	4

All I have to say is that is A LOT of carbs to add to your regular diet!!!

Anyway, I'm sure I didn't even come close. I tried to add an english muffin with peanut butter to my usual breakfast of oatmeal and fruit along with a glass of fruit juice each morning. For lunch, I tried to eat a sandwich or pasta along with milk or juice. Two of the nights for dinner we added bread and potatoes. The last night we had lasagna, also with garlic bread. With all those additions when I tracked my food at Sparkpeople.com, I didn't even reach 300 grams of carbs TOTAL each day, let alone on top of what I regularly would have eaten. I was full... miserable... and I really don't want to see another carb all weekend. Lets just say I feel like I gained 10 lbs in those three days. I haven't gotten on the scale to check.

This morning when I went into the lab for my test the technician described exactly as above as to how my test would go and I thought I'd be fine. Boy was I wrong...

She checked my blood sugar when I got there and told me it was 65 - she tells me this is normal. Then comes the 1st blood draw. Then the glucose solution - this time I get the lemon lime flavor... it's worse than the orange in case anyone was wondering. It tasted like a thick lemon lime soda with about 4 times the amount of sugar. Then, back to the waiting room I go to sit for an hour till my 2nd blood draw.

At first I played solitaire on my laptop, then I started to watch The Hangover with my earphones until I thought to myself that there were other patients who could see my screen and it was probably not the most appropriate movie to have playing in the waiting room... oops :) So I broke out my book instead.

About 45 minutes in I started to feel myself get REALLY queasy and the hot flashes and dizziness set in. I grabbed a cup of water from the cooler and sipped on it but it wasn't helping so I made my way back to the restroom and had a SERIOUS talk with the porcelain god. I had to beg myself not to upchuck the solution because I knew that would probably mean I'd not be able to finish the test and I'd have to do this all over again. I did hang out in there for a good while leaning against the wall cause it sure felt cooler than the waiting room... ugh! I can honestly say I haven't felt that sick in a LONG time, maybe ever, without throwing up anyway.

Finally the tech called me back for my 2nd draw and she must have realized how I was feeling because she asked me about 4 times if I would be ok. After the 2nd draw I made about 3 more false alarm trips to the restroom to keep things down but gradually started to feel better. For the 3rd and 4th draws the tech at least switched arms that she was drawing blood from but by the end I still felt like a pin cushion. FINALLY it was over!!!

I was supposed to go into work after but I called in sick the rest of the day... I deserve it right??

Glucose Hell

Before my 1-hour glucose screening Dr. C said I would have nothing to worry about.

She was wrong. So I get to sit through the 3-hour screening... Ugh!

It all started on Wednesday, I had my 28 week appointment and I went into it thinking it'd just be a normal appointment plus the glucose test. Dr. C let me know that I could eat a really light, sugar-free breakfast beforehand and that I'd have to be there for at least an hour. I don't eat bad and I don't really likes sweets. I did indulge A LOT over the holidays but who didn't??? Anyway, I didn't eat anything that morning... I dunno if that contributed or what.

So I go in and let the receptionist know that I'd be doing the glucose screening so that they can have me drink the sugar solution. They take me back and give me 5 minutes to get the glucose goo down... someone told me it tastes like orange tang - whoever said that can be shot cause it takes nothing like tang and more like sugar water with a splash of orange soda. It was warm too - yummy! Especially on an empty stomach.

The rest of my appointment goes well. Although I feel like I've gained 25 lbs, I've only gained a total of 13 lbs - go me! I can never remember what my blood pressure measures at but the nurse told me it was good. Pee in a cup - I never know why I do this but they always tell me they need to "dip my pee." Ok - have fun with that. :) Then I get to meet with Dr. C and we listen to Landon's heartbeat - today it was at 150 which is a little higher than it has been but she says he's probably on a sugar high from the solution. She measures my belly - 28 cm - right on track! Phew - since the last 2 appointments he's been measuring a week ahead! Then I get to sit and wait - 20 more minutes so that it's been a total of 1 hour since I first drank the sugar solution. Another nurse comes in to take 4 vials of blood; asks me to pee in a cup again; and I'm on my way. Not so bad! I thought I'd pass with flying colors.

Then tonight I got the call...

First of all, my iron tested low. So I have to add 325mg of iron and take it at a different time than my PNV since together they "could" make me constipated. Ah the joys...

Then the nurse tells me that my blood glucose measured right at 140 which she says doesn't fail the test but it's the cut off so they are sending me for the 3-hour test JUST IN CASE. Fabulous. She tells me that for 3 days prior to my next test I need to eat my regular diet but add 300 grams of carbs. Then the day of my test I need to fast for at least 8 hours before I come in.

I was doing some research and here's what my morning will look like for the 3-hour test:
"When you arrive for the test, the technician will take a blood sample to measure your "fasting blood glucose level" and then ask you to drink either a more concentrated dose or a larger volume of the glucose solution. Then brace yourself for three more arm pricks, as your blood is tested every hour for the next three hours.

If one of the readings is abnormal, you may have to take another test later in your pregnancy. Or your practitioner may ask you to make some changes in your diet and exercise routine. If two or more of your readings are abnormal, you'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes and you'll need to talk to your practitioner about a treatment plan. This chart shows the levels that the American Diabetes Association considers abnormal at each interval of the test:"

Interval	Abnormal reading
Fasting	95 mg/dl or higher
One hour	180 mg/dl or higher
Two hours	155 mg/dl or higher
Three hours	140 mg/dl or higher

Source

Lets cross our fingers for some normal readings!!!

What's in a Name?

A-FREAKIN-LOT!!!!

You have your name for your whole life - it's kind of a big deal?!

Did I mention we picked one??? :) Well, we picked 1/2 a name... after 28 weeks of arguing, making lists, changing our minds, and dodging the name question, Baby Schultz has a 1st name!!!!

Eeeeek!

Landon Schultz

I'm in love with it and I hope everyone else will be too - and if you aren't, well frankly, I don't care :) Cause it's not changing!!!

On to picking a middle name... stay tuned!!!