Dieting, in general, is no fun, but having to watch what you eat while pregnant is the worst!!! A common question for pregnant women is, “What foods are you craving?” For me, with both pregnancies, all I wanted was potato chips, kalamata olives, and crusty Italian bread slathered with butter. Instead of indulging in these cravings, I was forced to stop, consider my babies’ health, and make alternative choices (except for the olives) due to gestational diabetes.
A small percentage of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. To make it worse, if you have had it before, you are more likely to develop it again in future pregnancies. Unfortunately, I’ve been through it twice.
28 weeks into my first pregnancy, I went to my OB after drinking the dreaded “orange drink.” I received a call from my doctor the day before my birthday explaining that I had developed gestational diabetes and needed to restrict my carbohydrate intake. After hanging up the phone, I remember crying hysterically – first because I was worried about my baby’s health and secondly because I wasn’t going to be able to eat the Crumbs cupcakes I had been daydreaming about.
Of course, everything turned out fine. It’s amazing what you will do for your child. With much support from doctors, family, and friends, I monitored my sugar intake by testing my glucose levels, following a specific meal plan, and taking insulin. My son Shane was born 7 pounds 12 ounces and completely healthy, and I could start eating carbs again!
Once I found out I was pregnant with twins, I was very concerned that I would develop gestational diabetes again. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything possible to keep my babies safe. I requested to see a nutritionist and began testing my glucose levels around eight weeks pregnant…. and of course, they were high! I knew I could get through it again; however, it would be for a much longer period this time. So over the past nine months, all I have been thinking about are the foods I will eat as soon as these babies arrive. I began making a list for my husband:
1. Orange habanero guacamole and Baja tacos from Bodega Taco Bar (Fairfield & Darien)
2. Quatro Formaggio pizza from Pizza Mediterranean (Fairfield)
3. Volcano Roll from Edo (Norwalk)
4. Penne alla Vodka with shrimp from Tomato & Basil Café and Pizzeria (Fairfield)
5. Cookies & Cream ice cream from Sunny Daes (Fairfield & Westport)
The list could go on and on. So, for now, all I can do is enjoy my salads and nuts. In a few short weeks, my babies will be here, and all my pregnancy cravings will come true!
I admire you and any other woman who has had to power through having GD during their pregnancy! My #1 craving when I was pregnant with Owen was lemonade!!! Anything lemon-flavored, really, but lemonade the most. It was insane. If I didn’t have my lemonade every day, I literally would cry.
Anyway, glad your babies are here now, so you can eat the things you like again!!!
I craved tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella; cheesecake; and spinach and artichoke dip. I had to give up the spinach and artichoke dip though becasue as much as I craved it, my little one did not like it at all and it didn’t agree with me while I was pregnant! I was on the border for GD and had to drink that yucky drink quite a few times to keep testing….luckily, it never fully developed, but I did try to monitor what I was eating anyway, to be safe.
I have been induldging in all my cravings. So far I’ve eaten everything on my list, except for the sushi! I also could really go for an ice cold lemonade right now!
I had GD with my first pregnancy, but not my second. No fun! Hope you are enjoying carbs again 🙂