Update on Miss Leah

Yep, we have a name! Our baby girl's name is Leah Grace, and she is due to arrive, Lord willing, in ten weeks or less. We have a bit of an update on how this pregnancy is going. This has definitely been the hardest pregnancy of the three kids. As you know, I had horrible morning (or all-day) sickness during the first trimester. Second trimester was pretty kind, which was a huge blessing since it happened over the holiday season. Now that the third trimester has arrived, we recently found out that I have gestational diabetes. For those who don't know what this is, it basically means that my body can't keep up with the sugar levels, and so the extra sugar just sits in my blood and is converted to fat instead of being broken down into energy. If not dealt with, it can lead to a large baby. As most of you know, I'm prone to large babies, so managing the diabetes is pretty important. There are also some other risks, but they dramatically go down when the mom manages the diabetes in a healthy way. So, what now? For the remainder of the pregnancy, I will be on a strict diet of low carbs and sugars, and high protein and fiber. As a woman who loves, and I mean LOVES, her carbs, this is definitely a shift. I will have to do finger pricks four times a day and record the blood glucose levels for my nutritionist and doctor. I will have to report my numbers daily for 21 days, and if I have proven to manage it through diet, I won't have to go on medication. I will also have extra ultrasounds to track the baby's growth and size up to the due date. Once I deliver, the glucose levels of Leah and I will be checked for the first few days, but then we should be fine, and it should no longer be an issue. It's all a bit of a bummer, but I am already seeing some good things come out of it. Before being diagnosed, I was having some episodes of being lightheaded, weak, flushed, and nauseous. After starting this diet, I have already felt much better, and have more energy. Another plus is that we are eating pretty healthy as a family, and have already found some new recipes to incorporate into our menu planning later on. Finally, if this will help in having a slightly smaller baby, that is something to celebrate as well. On the bright side, it's only ten weeks. And, don't get me wrong...after the delivery, I will be requesting pizza and ice cream cake : ) Your prayers are appreciated as we head into the final leg of this pregnancy. We look forward to introducing you to Miss Leah Grace!