Bump Update Week 30

So needless to say this week has been a trying one.  I had my second glucose screening and about an hour ago, I found out I have gestational diabetes.  Which would be fine if I thought that I really had it.

photo from pregnancy.lovetoknow.com

After doing much research, I think the test is completely flawed at telling soon-to-be-mothers if they have a problem processing sugar.  Here's the thing, ALL four of my blood pulls were high.  But only slightly above the maximum.  So I did some research and you know what?!  It could be a million different reasons.  Here are just a few:
One, I'm still sick.  Any stress on the body naturally raises blood sugar.  Ummm, hello doctors, I've been sick for almost a month now!  And my coughing and hacking in the mornings are always the worst throughout the day.  Not to mention I have been so anxious and stressed out about this darn test that the emotional stress of taking it could have spiked the blood sugar too.
Two, they tell you not to eat or drink ANYTHING (including water) from midnight on. Maybe this works for normal people.  But considering I'm supposed to down 10-14 glasses of water a day, this makes no sense for a preggo chick.  I felt dehydrated all night long and all morning before the test, but since I couldn't have water, there was nothing I could do.  And guess what can make your blood sugar high, dehydration.  I've read that some doctors let their moms-to-be drink only water up to the actual test which would have been amazing for me.  But what do I know?
Three, I have recently started the high fat/low carb diet to halt weight gain (for me and baby) and to increase my health over all.  It's worked in the weight department.  In a little over two days I lost a pound.  But actually having a low carb diet and then ingesting 75 mg of pure sugar in 5 minutes or less is not indicative of how I normally eat.  See, once you actually start to go low carb, your muscles stop wanting carbs to function.  They instead burn fat (stored fat or the fat that you ingest).  So, when you suddenly ask your body to process a load of sugar it spikes your blood sugar because it's not used to processing that much sugar at once.  I even read that people used to carb load 3 days before to prepare the body for processing all that sugar at once which then allowed them to pass the test.
Needless to say I am more than upset about it.  I know that it's good that I find out if I have this so I can treat the condition and get it under control, but it's really frustrating when the treatment is to eat more carbs and sugar that I normally consume in a day.  I've seen the "diet" and it's a ton of carbs at all 6 meals.  And by a ton I mean 30-50 grams per meal.  30x6 meals a day is 180 carbs per day (and that's on the low end)!  That's 80 grams of carbs more than what I try to stay under.  ALMOST DOUBLE!  And while on this lovely diet through my first trimester, I gained 7-8 pounds.  Once I stopped listening to the diet, I only gained 2 lbs in my second trimester.  And so far in my third while on this high fat/low carb diet I have lost 1 pound!  I'm not saying I know what I'm doing, because I don't.  But I do know that eating more carbs than usual to stabilize my blood sugar (at a higher level) doesn't make much sense.  So I'm struggling with exactly how to handle this condition.  Listen to the doctors who tell you to eat by the food pyramid and ingest 9-11 servings of grain a day or listen to low carb advocates that tell you that's a bunch of bologna!

photo from dorchesterhealth.org

I have an OBGYN appointment on Monday and will address all of this with her.  Hopefully, she'll be insightful and helpful.  But then again, these are the same people who made me take my original glucose tests and screens while hopped up on steroids and sick as a dog.  Let's all cross our fingers people!

On the upside, the baby is kicking like normal and dancing up a storm in my uterus.  She loves when I eat strawberries and really likes a cold glass of milk.  Most of the time I can see her move on the outside of my stomach which is really creepy and cool all at the same time.  She likes to jab and has recently been hanging out on the top left side of my belly.  Of course, when I have to pee, she loves to throw a kick or two into my bladder.  Thank goodness for kegels or else I would have a ton of accidents trying to make it to the bathroom before she stomps on my bladder.

photo from a really cool youtube video!

From head to heel, she's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage).  I definitely look pregnant and not just really fat now as my tummy has grown to a full-on blimp.  According to babycenter.com, I am supposed to be clumsier than normal thanks to all the added weight in my belly.

photo from ideluca.com

I have had some trouble sleeping which is common during the last trimester.  Most of the time, it's the two or three bathroom trips that make sleeping difficult throughout the night.  But sometimes, it just plain hard to fall asleep.  Whether or not I'm tired, getting really comfortable is becoming more and more difficult.  Even getting comfortable sitting is difficult sometimes.

photo from mindfulmum.com

Due to relaxing ligaments, hormonal changes, and lack of sleep, many women get to enjoy more mood swings this trimester.  I can definitely say that from about week 26 to now I have had more and more crying fits.  And sometimes will have random bursts of energy and feelings of being incredible motivated.  I will love it when these feelings even out again.  Although I am pretty sure it won't be until a couple weeks after the baby is born.
Here's hoping I can hold it together a few more months! :)