Pregnancy: 23rd week

Back from hiatus...I must admit I was too lazy to update my blog...haha...

On March 25th was another check-up with Dr. Candelario. I was on my 23rd week of pregnamcy. Everything about my baby boy was fine.

-Fetal Hart Rate: 161bpm

-Average Ultrasonic Age: 22w4d

-Ultrasonic EDC: 7/25/2014

-Estimated Fetal Weight: 574g

-Presentation: Cephalic

-Placenta: Posterior high lying, Grade II

I was also due for a 50g Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) on March 31st. This test is done to pregnant women to check if they have gestational diabetes (or gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM). 

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (especially during their third trimester). Gestational diabetes is caused when insulin receptors do not function properly. This is likely due to pregnancy-related factors such as the presence of human placental lactogen that interferes with susceptible insulin receptors. This in turn causes inappropriately elevated blood sugar levels. (Source: Wikipedia) 

When I went to the lab Dr. Candelario referred me to for the test, they gave me a mug of warm colorless glucose. It was very sweet and I had to consume it within 5 minutes. I had to go back after an hour to have my blood drawn. It was already lunchtime then, but I shouldn't eat or drink anything before the blood extraction. I was starving. 

Unfortunately, the test result showed a very high value implying that I had GDM. As indicated in the lab result, the normal value should be between 70 and 110 mg/dl, but mine was 246 mg/dl. 

I went to Dr. Candelario to show the result. She referred me to Dr. Solimen, an endocrinologist for a second opinion. Hubby and I got to Dr. Solimen's clinic on the same day at 4 p.m., but we were already 36th on his list of patients so we got the chance to talk to him after 2 hours.

Dr. Solimen asked me to do another test and referred me to a diagnostic laboratory he was affiliated with.