When someone pregnant is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it can be scary. There are many things you can do to keep you and your baby healthy during and after pregnancy.

It is important to go to all your prenatal appointments so your health care provider can monitor you and your baby. Gestational diabetes can cause your baby to be larger than normal when you are pregnant. It may cause your baby to have yellowish skin, low blood sugar, or possibly trouble breathing at birth. By keeping your prenatal appointments and managing your blood sugar, it may prevent these conditions.

Learning about changes you can make to your daily meals are important. When you have gestational diabetes, the sugar in your blood may be too high. Just by changing the things you eat can help keep the blood sugar at a safe level. Receiving nutritional advice and having a plan that is right for you will help manage your eating and meals.

Safe exercise activities in your daily routine are important. Exercising for about 30 minutes a day five days a week can help control blood sugar levels. Talk with your health care provider about an exercise plan that is right for you.

Discuss with your provider how much weight gain is right for you during your pregnancy. Then, you will be better able to focus on staying within your weight gain range, which can help control your blood sugar levels and also keep your baby healthy.

Checking blood sugar levels routinely and writing them down to bring to your appointments can help. You may not have to use medication if your blood sugar levels are controlled. Sometimes when eating healthy and exercise are not enough, you may need to use insulin or other medications to prevent risks to you and your baby.

Begin thinking about breastfeeding before your baby is born. Breastfeeding may help delay or prevent diabetes in the future for you and your baby. It may help prevent obesity in your child.

After your baby is born, it is very important to return to see your health care provider for your postpartum checkup. Your diabetes may not go away after the baby is born and you may need continued care. Diabetes may make it difficult to care for yourself and your baby if it is not treated. Diabetes is serious. Please take care of YOU so you can take care of your baby.

Next time, we plan to review Gestational Diabetes, After the Baby.