http://www.thebostonchannel.com/heal...00/detail.html
I am such at risk! And please note...even "skinny" people can have gestational diabetes.....but obviously obese women are put at a greater risk. It is bad enough that I have read several studies saying that overweight mothers have a higher chance of having a child with a heart defect....my first born...was born with a critical life threatening heart defect
Was it because I was "obese"? (Or I like to put it "overweight"! ) Who knows....but it is bad enough when you have chronically ill infant of any kind...you automaticly blame yourself!!!!! Especially being the mom...and having the baby grow inside of you for hopefully the full 40 weeks. Being overweight is a bad enough stigma while pregnant (I know, I have done it twice!) and their is a lot of not so fat friendly doctors, nurses, and others in the medical establishment .
Geeze, I saw this article on the local news and almost cried to find out that maybe my poor Aidan's breathing issues (just diagnosed Asthma/reactive airway disease) was caused by me!!!! I know there is no use to blame myself....but it just makes me really sad that I perhaps could have prevented this. So, please ladies.....before we have decided to get preggo again...let's get healthy by eating healthier and working out and moving our bodies! Thanks!
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Big Babies Could Spell Big Health Issues
Study Finds Link Between Bigger Babies, Gestational Diabetes
POSTED: 4:16 p.m. EST February 26, 2004
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m. EST February 26, 2004
BOSTON -- Bigger doesn't always mean better, especially when it comes to babies.
NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported that mothers who have diabetes when they're pregnant tend to have bigger children, and that can lead to other problems for both mother and baby.
Tina Allen is expecting her third child and experiencing her third case of gestational diabetes.
Allen said she is careful about what she eats and is able to manage her condition through her diet.
"I know what I can eat and what I can't eat. Occasionally, I'll stretch the diet a little bit to see if I can have something more," said Allen.
A new study of hundreds of thousands of women showed gestational diabetes is up 35 percent since 1991. A family history is just one of several factors that increase risk.
"(Other risks include) women who are overweight, who tend to be older, closer to 40 than 25, women from a population that has an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Phillip McCrary of Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Doctors urge women to get screened for gestational diabetes between the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy.
Experts say the best defenses against the disease are the old standbys -- diet and exercise.
"I've always tried for many years now to eat nutritious healthy food, wholesome food," said mother Heidrun Jacobi.
Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes may be premature, or can be too large, leading to delivery complications or caesarean sections.
The babies are also at greater risk of breathing problems, obesity and developing diabetes themselves.
Allen's watching her children carefully, and is confident they'll beat the odds, despite her gestational diabetes.
"They were monitored when born, no signs of diabetes, and to this day they show no signs, but they are both very active and they eat good, balanced diets," said Allen.
Although the gestational form of the disease goes away after a woman delivers, she is then has an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life.