After Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes

Your blood sugar will most likely return to normal after delivery. But gestational diabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting diabetes later in life. You’re also more likely to have gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy. But you can take steps to reduce these risks.

Taking Care of Yourself

 

Even if your blood sugar goes back to normal, you still need to take care of yourself. This will help prevent diabetes later in life.

Keep your weight down. Eating food that is low in fat and sugar can help you control your weight. If you’re overweight, your risk of getting diabetes in 10 to 15 years more than doubles. Keeping your weight down also reduces your risk of having gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy.
Get regular exercise. Exercise helps lower your blood sugar. It can also help you control your weight.
Have your blood sugar checked. Make an appointment to have your blood sugar checked about 6 to 8 weeks after delivery.
Have regular diabetes screenings. Get checked every year, or as often as your healthcare provider advises.
Breastfeeding

Breast milk is the best food for your baby. Breastfeeding may also help lower your blood sugar. Your healthcare provider can show you how to breastfeed. Be sure to eat a good diet and drink extra fluids while you’re breastfeeding.

Planning Future Pregnancies

You need to be sure your blood sugar is back to normal before you get pregnant again. Have your blood sugar checked before you plan your next pregnancy. And remember that it’s possible to get pregnant again soon after delivery. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best method of birth control for you and your partner.

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Weight Gain and Healthy Eating While Pregnant

We have grown used to associating beauty with a slender body. And women experience the highest pressure of all. Even during pregnancy, they keep watching the scale and thinking about diets. Smile, new mom! Put your hands around your belly! Cradle your child and enjoy this special time of your life! Instead of looking in the mirror or using the scale to monitor your pregnancy weight gain, be positive!

It will take some will power to overcome prejudices but if you care enough for your baby you’ll manage. You can remain an active pregnant woman for as long as your condition allows it, although you should not exaggerate. Diet can be nutritious and very very tasty, and you can enjoy it with every meal or snack. You’ll soon stop counting calories, but that’s not a point to make junk food part of your main meals. Whether cooked at home or at the restaurant, meals have to contain plenty of nutrients and no raw meat or eggs.

There are plenty of gourmet recipes that you can cook to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain. You should nevertheless keep in mind that there is no pregnancy without weight gain. And if it does not happen, then it is a warning sign. Once you find out you’re pregnant do not get rummaging all those negative thoughts about how you are going to swell like a balloon and not be able to wear your favorite jeans. There are much more important and serious things going on, and they are priorities. Every mom confirms and reveals the miracle of life, and we should all awe to that!

Feel blessed because you are blessed! There are positive things to recognize in pregnancy weight gain. The extra pounds show that your body is providing everything the baby needs. The metabolism gets slower, the body produces more blood, water is retained in the tissues, and the fetus is protected by warm liquid environment. All these contribute to pregnancy weight gain considerably.

So, you’ve got two options here: you can lament about how difficult it is going to get and how fat and ugly you’ll turn, or you can enjoy the experience and appreciate every minute of it. Of course there will be obstacles, tough times, embarrassing moments, but they are trifles in comparison with the beauty of growing your child and finally meeting him/her at the end of the nine-month journey!