As part of your antenatal programme be sure to have your Oral Glucose Tolerance Test from 24-28 weeks. This test is available to all pregnant women and helps to detect a condition known as Gestational Diabetes. This is a form of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy and requires further specialist involvement during your pregnancy. If diagnosed you may be at risk of delivering a large baby, having low blood sugar for you and baby and in more serious cases baby may have difficulty breathing after delivery. It’s important to remember that most women with Gestational Diabetes have normal healthy babies.
The test consists of having a blood test followed by a sugary drink and a further blood test 1 and 2 hours later.
Treatment of Gestational Diabetes in pregnancy usually consists of education about healthy eating and exercise, blood sugar monitoring and in some cases oral medication or insulin injections.
If you have any further questions please pop by and see me in clinic.
Up to 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men experience depression during pregnancy. Anxiety is also a common symptom in expecting parents.
Other symptoms include; panic attacks where your heart is racing, feeling of worry, mood swings, feeling sad, having little or no interest to things that usually bring joy or thoughts of self harm.
Parents who have had a baby recently may also experience feelings of low mood, this affects 1 in 7 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads. These feelings may be present after delivery or may gradually appear over a period of a few weeks or months during the first year of brith.
It is really important that if you or your partner experience any of these symptoms or have any concerns that you seek medical advice. There is plenty of help so you do not need to be alone. Treatment will vary on an individual basis but may include speaking therapies, medication or support groups.
If you have any concerns please pop by and see me in clinic.
