Gestational diabetes which trimester

It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 7 percent of all pregnancies.

It usually arises in the second half of pregnancy and goes away as soon as the baby is born. Counting your carbohydrate intake due to gestational diabetes? Use these menus, each of which contains 30 grams of carbohydrates, to simplify your dieting. During the last half of pregnancy, your body makes more red blood cells which can cause Anemia. Learn more about causes and prevention here. Pregnancy produces many physical changes. Aside from weight and body shape, other alterations in your body chemistry and function take place.

Learn more. Domestic violence is the most common health problem among women during pregnancy. It greatly threatens both the mother's and baby's health. Learn more here. Most women can, and should, engage in moderate exercise during pregnancy. Exercise can help you stay in shape and prepare your body for labor and delivery.

Commonly asked questions regarding Prenatal Tests including, types available, positive screenings, diagnostic testing, health insurance coverage, and more. If you are pregnant, we recommend you be tested for the human immunodeficiency virus HIV even if you do not think you are at risk.

Premature labor occurs between the 20th and 37th week of pregnancy, when uterine contractions cause the cervix to open earlier than normal. The pregnancy may alter how a woman and her partner feel about making love, and differences in sexual need may arise. While pregnant, it is best to eat well, stay healthy and avoid ingesting anything that might be harmful to the mother's or baby's health. Get ready for the baby! Choose from a variety of classes that prepare moms and partners for pregnancy, birth, baby care, breastfeeding and parenting.

Get support for all your breastfeeding needs. Troubleshoot with a lactation consultant, find equipment and supplies, join a support group and more. Access free health resources here, from classes and webinars to support groups and medical referrals, plus pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding services.

Patient Education. Related Conditions. High-risk pregnancy. Causes Pregnancy hormones cause the body to be resistant to the action of insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas that helps your body use the fuels supplied by food.

Diagnosis Gestational diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test. Continue reading Risk Factors A number of risk factors are associated with gestational diabetes, including: Being overweight Giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds Having a parent or sibling with diabetes Having had gestational diabetes in the past Having glucose in your urine In addition, gestational diabetes occurs more often in African Americans, Native Americans, Latinas and women with a family history of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes and Your Baby Gestational diabetes can affect your developing baby in a couple of ways: High birth weight Exposure to higher sugar levels from the maternal bloodstream can result in a larger baby and a high birth weight. The baby's pancreas produces extra insulin in response to the higher glucose, which results in the baby storing extra fat and growing larger. A larger baby can make delivery more complicated for both mother and baby. Low blood sugar If your blood sugar has been elevated during the pregnancy, your baby may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, shortly after birth.

The extra insulin that your baby produces when your blood sugar is high continues to bring your baby's blood sugar down for a short time after birth. Without the continued supply of sugar from maternal blood, your baby's blood sugar level may fall too low. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is first seen in a pregnant woman who did not have diabetes before she was pregnant. Some women have more than one pregnancy affected by gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes usually shows up in the middle of pregnancy. Doctors most often test for it between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Often gestational diabetes can be controlled through eating healthy foods and regular exercise. Sometimes a woman with gestational diabetes must also take insulin. Blood sugar that is not well controlled in a woman with gestational diabetes can lead to problems for the pregnant woman and the baby:. Besides causing discomfort to the woman during the last few months of pregnancy, an extra large baby can lead to problems during delivery for both the mother and the baby.

The mother might need a C-Section to deliver the baby. The baby can be born with nerve damage due to pressure on the shoulder during delivery. If any of these apply to you, you should be offered screening for gestational diabetes during your pregnancy.

Most cases are only discovered when your blood sugar levels are tested during screening for gestational diabetes. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels gets too high hyperglycaemia , such as:.

But some of these symptoms are common during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you're worried about any symptoms you're experiencing.

Having gestational diabetes also means you're at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. During your first antenatal appointment also called a booking appointment at around week 8 to 12 of your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will ask you some questions to determine whether you're at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.

If you have 1 or more risk factors for gestational diabetes you should be offered a screening test. It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have not had any food or drink for 8 to 10 hours though you can usually drink water, but check with the hospital if you're unsure. You're then given a glucose drink. After resting for 2 hours, another blood sample is taken to see how your body is dealing with the glucose.

The OGTT is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. If you've had gestational diabetes before, you'll be offered an OGTT earlier in your pregnancy, soon after your booking appointment, then another OGTT at 24 to 28 weeks if the first test is normal.

If you have gestational diabetes, the chances of having problems with your pregnancy can be reduced by controlling your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels may be reduced by changing your diet and exercise routine. However, if these changes don't lower your blood sugar levels enough, you will need to take medicine as well.