SweetLily

I HATE this. I have no idea why all of the sudden when a woman is pregnant it is ok to comment on her weight, size and whatever else. I actually tell people that I don't like those comments or tell them that I don't find it very nice or if I know the person well, I comment on their weight right back. Lol. Same with the people who come up and touch my belly. Whenever they put their hand on mine, I put my hand on theirs. Did it during my first pregnancy too. Makes them take their hand back quickly. Lol.

Hi Ilovewine, Busy days in the beginning, hey? :) I really would hope that you don't get bashed for using the shields. If you do there is no way that you should be paying attention to those comments anyway. Right now you are doing what is right for you and the baby, that's the most important. As you probably know, shields aren't fantastic because of the extra faf and you have to really pay attention to a few extra things but I know women who nursed for many, many months using a shield every time. SO if they are working for you right now that is the important part don't worry about them too much right now. Go with what is working for you guys. As far as your nipples go, please try not to worry about them too much. I know that is easier said that done. Many, many women with flat and inverted nipples nurse very successfully. The baby really takes in the breast tissue rather than the nipple so try no to focus too much on the nipple itself. There is no right or wrong type of nipple for breastfeeding. But there are a few things that you can do to help in these early days if the baby is having trouble latching onto the breast. That said, there are a few things that you can do that can make baby have an easier latch with flatter nipples. Have you tried making a 'sandwich' with your breast? "Use the 'breast-sandwich' technique to get more breast tissue into baby's mouth. Hold your breast well back on the areola, with your fingers underneath and thumb on top. Press in with thumb and fingers while at the same time pushing back toward your chest wall. This elongates and narrows the areola, which enables baby to latch on more easily." (from Dr. Sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/common-problems/flat-or-inverted-nipples) Another link that might be helpful: http://www.llli.org/faq/flat.html Also, do you have a pump? You could try to use it for a few seconds before feeding to bring the nipple out. That can often work also. There are also breast shells (different from a nipple shield) that is a hard cup type thing with a silicone backing on it that can help draw out more of a nipple. It sounds very much that you need someone to sit down with you and have a look at your latch. Don't stop trying to get hold of the LC. If you need someone in the mean time you can contact one of your local doulas and ask them for help. They are often trained in breastfeeding support also. I would say keep giving it a go without the shield once in a while and when your son isn't super hungry so that he doesn't get frustrated when you try. It is important to really focus on that latch and get that going before he settles into some bad habits that will get harder and harder to break as he gets older. Have you taken a bath with him yet? Very often babies nurse really well in a bath with mama. The water and relaxing atmosphere often helps relax baby so he opens his mouth and gets a good latch. You could also do a day where you lay in bed and just nurse and focus on skin to skin. Lots and lots of skin to skin is also a fantastic way to fix a latch. What does his tongue look like? Do you see him open his mouth and stick it out? When you look under the tongue do you see where it is attached? Sometimes babies have something that is called a tongue tie and this can make nursing difficult for them. It is easily fixed with a quick snip under the tongue and very often nursing becomes much easier after that. When you use the shields you do need to be cautious about a few things. One is weight gain. With the shield it is possible that baby won't draw out the same amount of milk as they would off of the shield. So monitor his intake by watching weight gain and wet and dirty nappies. Another is milk supply, because baby might not be taking in all of the milk needed this can decrease your supply. So it is often advised that you add a pumping session or two in during the day when you are using shields. This will make sure that you are maintaing supply and will decrease your risk of infections. Listen and make sure that baby is swallowing and seems content after feeding. That's another way to tell that they are getting enough milk. And as KW said below, wash the shields in hot water and dry fully to decrease risk of thrush. Here's a link that might be helpful: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/wean-shield.html#precautions Keep trying with the LC, contact a local doula or give a call to one of the supporters in the links that I put below. It's important to get any latch problems nipped in the bud early on. I hope that helps. You're doing a great job. :) These early days are tough but they do get easier. I am so happy to hear that you are trying different things so that you can keep nursing. It is so important to be determined. Know that you're not alone and those super tough days do pass. Hugs to you, new mama. xx

They run a bf support group there, which inspired me to create [url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/277564193389/'>Breastfeeding Mums in Dubai[/url'> Ah, so you started that. I'm a member of that group. Great job. :)

I should hope so. Thats the beauty of advice though. We can get everyone else's opinions and then go ahead and do what we were going to do anyway :D The problem is though, that some people genuinely don't know what to do and will follow the consensus of the majority. We've kind of forgotten how much we had to learn - and quickly, at that - and I only have a vague recollection of quite how daunting I found all the different opinions. It's a big call to forge your own way confidently, something that only a very small percentage of mums can do (and I'm not one of them!). I remember on this forum, there was one thread where a 1st time mum was asking advice on a 2 week old baby who was bf and hadn't poo'd in 24 hours. The number of people who genuinely suggested suppositories (one even went as far as suggesting a dollop of vaseline inserted on the end of a rectal thermometer!) beggared belief... I don't know what the mum did in the end, but there were certainly more in the suppository camp than in the "let nature take its course" camp! edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 08/01/2012 My point exactly. Especially with babies you should be getting solid, educated advice when it comes to eating and health. Forums can't always give that... and as KW just pointed out below, many medical professionals can't always give it either especially when it comes to breastfeeding, doh. You really have to search out and find someone that you trust when it comes to your new bubs. But I do think that the forums are great to hear experiences and to know that you're not alone, as KW said and while it is possible to get some good advice you really have to be selective. And I agree, HAK, your experiences are always welcome here. :) <em>edited by SweetLily on 08/01/2012</em>

SweetLily - I think you've hit the nail on the head! She didn't really react when my parents left, but if I think about how I feel after having people to stay,I can only imagine what it must be like for her. Definitely just lots of love and understanding needed I think and fingers crossed it passes. Thanks for your post and thanks Kiwispiers for the lovely suggestion. My sister did something similar with both my nieces and I'll definitely be trying it too. Thanks again x How is it going now? Better, I hope. But I know that with our daughter it can take a little while sometimes. Just keep reminding yourself if will pass because it most very likely will. It sounds like you are a wonderful and supportive mama. Your daughter is lucky. :) And I LOVE the kissing game idea that KW posted. Very cute!

Oops. It's called Amber in Dubai. Here's her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-in-Dubai/184750998246860?sk=info

I would imagine that it would be totally fine but maybe if you want to be sure you can call the ladies at Dubai Amber or the place where you got it?

Hi Nimonemo, For our first daughter we had our family come over a week after the birth and for this one (due end of Feb/early March) we are having them come maybe three weeks after the birth - at the end of March. With my first daughter we had my MIL come over for a week, a week after she was born, then she left and my parents came for two weeks, then they left and my sister came for two weeks. We loved having them all around but by the end of it we were really ready to get settled into our new family life. We are happy to have them all come a bit later and have them here for a shorter amount of time this time around. I think it really does depend on how you feel about how outspoken you can be with your feelings while your mother is there. I feel that it is very important that the mom and dads are the ones who hold the baby for those first precious weeks. The baby needs to bond with you. Often when you have visitors in those first few weeks/months they are the ones that end up holding the baby and you are making cups of tea or doing the laundry or washing the dishes when you should be resting, recovering and bonding with baby. What we did was not have any visitors for that first week and when we finally had them come around we made a list of things that needed to be done and put it on the kitchen door. That way when people came to visit they could feel like they were helping out. This worked our really well and, while I don't know your mom, people really understood that we wanted a babymoon with no visitors and they loved that they were able to help around the house and didn't mind having only a few cuddles with the baby. Another thing to consider is if you are going to breastfeed. Those first couple/few weeks are often spent lying around the house with your baps out and nursing all the time. It is important for you to get that nursing relationship secured right away and if you aren't going to be comfortable nursing in front of others right away you might want to hold off on the visitors for a little bit otherwise you could be spending a lot of time tucked away in a corner somewhere. That doesn't go for everyone of course, but something to keep in mind depending on how you are wanting to feed and how comfortable you will be with nursing in front of others in those early days. It sounds like your mother is very excited and that is wonderful. I wonder if you might be able to give her specific tasks that could direct that excitement into something that would be really useful for you or have her be really involved in the things that are ok for you to have her really involved in. Like picking out a colour for the nursery or choosing a cot, etc. My husband and my parenting style is very different from what our family is used to. We get a lot of slack, especially from my in-laws, about some of the things we do and with the medical community over here for our choices. Rather than engage in the conversations, which would usually end in an argument or debate, have some responses at the ready. These include, for example: Them: "We didn't do [enter parenting choice here'> and look, our kids are fine." Us: "There is research now that wasn't around when your kids were younger that suggests it is great for the baby and I know research will change when our kids are older but we're going by what we know right now. We can only do what's best for our family with the information we have at the time." Them: "You MUST do/not do [enter parenting choice here'>. You are going to spoil/damage/destroy your child." Us: "Ah, thanks so much. Got that covered. Would you like another cup of tea?" Them: "But your MUST have [enter some medical jargon here'> for your child." Us: *smile and nod and tell them, "No thanks." If I must, then I am a bit more forceful and let them know that we love them very much (well, not the doctors. Lol), that we know and can see how much they love our kids, but this is the way that we parent and it isn't up for discussion. I don't overload them with facts or figures or try to change their mind because I don't think that's what they're looking for. I just nod and smile and stay resolute in our choices. I suppose that's what I would suggest for you. To think about what those first couple of weeks are going to be like with your baby. Imagine it both with and without your mother. What kind of help do you want in those first few days/weeks. Before the baby is born maybe don't tell her everything if you know it is only going to be up for debate or start an argument - like names. Instead I would just keep it to myself or have the smile and nod at the ready. Let her have her say but don't engage in debate. A smile and nod along with the offer of a cup of tea/sandwich/sweet, or a smile and a nod before changing the subject to your sister's crazy new hairstyle/boyfriend/outfit, can be a fantastic thing. :) If you do decide to have her wait for a little while after the baby is born before she comes just be prepared. Have a stretchy baby wrap at the ready - we use a Moby (they are lifesavers) - so that you can do things around the house hands free. Have friends, lactation consultants (if nursing) and take out delivery numbers on speed dial so that they can be there at a moment's notice. Have your friends organize bringing over evening meals. Stock the freezer before you give birth. Chili freezes well, as does lasagna. I do think it is wonderful that your mother is so excited but know from experience that as wonderful as it can be it can also be very stressful. (We were all running late for my wedding reception and my mother yelled out "I can't believe I'm late for my own party!" Lol.) Stick with your gut feeling on this one and be prepared for whatever choice you make. You have that mama intuition coursing through your veins now. Trust that and go with what that inner mother says. Hope that helps. xx <em>edited by SweetLily on 06/01/2012</em>

And... (as with most things these days) there's an app for that. :) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/help/lactmedapp.htm

We use the smallest smear of toothpaste on our daughter's brush. Mostly I just push the brush into the top without squeezing the tube at all so the amount on the brush is tiny. Otherwise, we still use a cloth to wipe her teeth as well. She's 15 months and has about 8 teeth.

Hi Helping Hand :) I would try to get her to take some milk out of different styles of cups. Try a few different styles as some babies can be a bit picky (I know my daughter was.:)) There is no reason to give her formula if you don't want to. She is old enough to drink regular milk. I agree with JoannaS in introducing some other types of milk before you go away so that you can know what she like and tolerates well. If you find that she doesn't like or digest cows milk well (many babies and adults don't) then try goats milk or camel milk. They are often easier digested. If she decides not to take any milk at all that isn't a problem. She can get her calcium and nutrients from leafy green veggies, broccoli, cheese and yogurt. Here are some links that you might find helpful: http://www.askdrsears.com/content/does-my-toddler-need-cows-milk http://www.kidsdr.com/daily-dose/transitioning-to-whole-milk-or-toddlers-formula http://alphamom.com/parenting/toddler-parenting/toddler-formulas-vs-milk/ If you would like to keep her on breastmilk while you are away there is always the option of donated milk. You can go to the UAE chapter at www.facebook.com/hm4hbuae and find donated milk there. You can give the donated milk just in a regular cup or sippy also. If you are interested in weaning fully maybe you would want to start the process before you leave so that it isn't so quick for both you and your daughter. Le Leche League have a lot of information on different ways to wean. If you began the process before you left then you wouldn't have to pump while you were away and your daughter would be used to the idea of not nursing very often. Some links on weaning: http://www.llli.org/faq/weantoddler.html http://www.llli.org/nb/nbweaning.html But if you wanted to continue nursing there is very much the possibility that your daughter will continue to nurse. Many babies go on nursing strikes for weeks or self wean during pregnancy for months only to return to the breast full force later. So, if you aren't ready, don't think that this has to be the end of your nursing relationship. Some other mamas talk about their experience here: http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?99856-Trip-away-from-nursing-toddler While you are away it is very much recommended that you pump to prevent engorgement, clogged ducts and mastitis. It isn't recommended to stop breastfeeding quickly. How often does your daughter nurse? You can start out by pumping about the same amount as she nurses and then drop a feed every couple of days. As JoannaS says, don't pump to get a lot of milk out but pump to the point of relief. Links on breastfeeding and travel: http://www.llli.org/nb/nbjulaug00p140.html If you do find yourself pumping while you are away and don't want to travel back with your stored milk (although it is very possible to travel with frozen milk) you can donate it to the local HM4HB where you are at. Most places have a chapter and you can find them here: http://www.hm4hb.net/communities.html Hope that helps. :)

I also emailed you, Gaigind. Did you happen to see it or would you like me to resend it? I also recommended the No Cry Sleep Solution and Helping Your Baby to Sleep: Why Gentle Techniques Work Best by Beth MacGregor, Anni Gethin. Some other great sleep books are: Good Nights: The Happy Parents' Guide to the Family Bed (and a Peaceful Night's Sleep!) by Maria Goodavage and Dr. Jay Gordon The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp I really think that a stretchy wrap can work wonders in those early days. I found it to be a lifesaver. We used a Moby and wore our baby all the time (we still do). On the days that she was worn she was less fussy and slept better. I could also go about my day hands free. I loved it. I also posted a link about the fourth trimester: http://www.becomingmamas.com/life-in-the-fourth-trimester/ The basic idea is that the first three months of the baby's life are an extension of life in the womb as baby gets used to her new world. I found it was really useful to keep reminding myself of this as I was going through those early months. It also might be great to find some support outside of the house. Maybe in the form of the Le Leche League or other nursing mamas group. They can be a great resource. You'll meet other mamas who are going through very similar things to yourself (cluster feeds, night nursing, etc) and so it's a great way to get some ideas on how to get more sleep and relaxation through the growth spurts and early weeks. http://www.facebook.com/groups/lll.uae/ Another way to find support might be in the form of a post-natal doula. There are quite a few doulas in Dubai if you google them and they can come to the house and help out with baby while you do things that you love or need to do. They can also cook for you or pick up or help with breastfeeding, etc. I remember you mentioned that you are a determined breastfeeder and that baby is putting on great weight. So well done to you. Those early weeks can be so, so hard. Sometimes you really do just have to rely on that determination. It is very common for babies to start to find their own routine once they are a few months old. I know that our daughter did at around 3.5 months. She started being very predictable with her night sleeps and naps also. So your baby might find his or her own routine on her own also. Kiwispers has some great links below and great tips too. Most important thing is to follow your natural mothering instinct and follow your baby's cues. They so often tell us exactly what they need and the more that we listen the clearer their instructions get. I hope that helps. I feel for you, I am sure we all do. Those early months can be so, so tough but it does get better. Feeds start getting more spaced out and sleep patterns start getting more predictable. x

Wonderful! Congratulations, Green-ish!

Just sent you an email, cp8o. You can remove that post with your information in it. :)

Ugh. I hear you. I hate it too. I really like Baby Souk. It's not the cheapest around but offers a lot of organic options that are cute and not pink. http://www.babysouk.com/index.php?page=product_display&cid=5&sid=11&submenuheader=4

Aw, that's great. I'm glad that you found out what it was. Is it getting better now? When our daughter is getting a new tooth in we freeze some Chamomile tea on a wash cloth and give it to her to chew on before bed. It seems to help with the discomfort and she sleeps better. We also use an Amber Teething Necklace. They also help with the pain. While they are sleeping you can use an anklet or use the necklace as an anklet under a footed sleep suit or you can just have the baby wear them during the day. There is a lady in Dubai who sells them: Amber in Duabi http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-in-Dubai/184750998246860?sk=info We swear by ours. :)

Here is a fantastic list of books to check out and if you look at the bottom there is a list of ones to avoid. I found the list very, very helpful for my first pregnancy. Congratulations! http://www.facebook.com/NaturalParentsNetwork?sk=app_11007063052

Hi cp80. We avoid dopplers and ultrasounds all together. There is a bit of information out there that suggests some dangers, especially with too much doppler use. I'll put it here. Take what you like and leave what you don't. :) "Ordinary scans use pulses of ultrasound which last only a fraction of a second, with the interval between waves being used by the machine to interpret the echo that returns. In contrast, doppler techniques, which are used in specialised scans, fetal monitors and hand-held fetal stethescopes ('sonicaids') feature continuous waves, giving much higher levels of exposure than 'pulsed' ultrasound. Many women do not realise that the small machines used to listen to their baby's heartbeat are actually using doppler ultrasound, albeit with low dose parameters." http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Prenatal/sarah/ultrasound.html According to Henci Goer's Obstetric Myths Vs Research Realities, 1 minute of doppler = 30 minutes of u/s. Large exposure to u/s has been linked to cell changes and IUGR. Here is a link with more information: http://gentlebirth.org/archives/preScreen.html#Avoiding There are many countries that give very few ultrasounds (less than 3 in normal pregnancies) and use a fetoscope (a non-electronic stethascope) instead of a doppler during pregnancy or use the doppler very infrequently or hardly at all until labour. I just feel that there just isn't enough long term information out there on continued doppler and U/S use for my personal comfort. If you want to hear the heartbeat have you thought about buying a fetoscope instead? Aside from any potential dangers you are listening to the actual heartbeat rather than a mechanical version of it. They would also be much cheaper. There are also many stories about mothers not relying on their intuition on the baby's health and instead listening the the doppler to become reassured and then have poor fetal outcomes. For example, a mother notices decreased fetal movement, becomes worried, checks baby's heartbeat on doppler, hears heartbeat, becomes reassured and a few days later baby is no longer with her because baby was actually in danger in the first instance. Does that make sense? Here's an example: http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/16834 Here are a few other links that might be helpful in making your decision: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasoundwagner.asp http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol10No2/ressum98.htm#2 http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasound.asp (in particular look at the evaluating the risks section) I know that a lot of the information looks specifically at ultrasound so keep in mind that a doppler is stronger than an ultrasound as it used constant waves where the ultrasound uses pulsed waves. I hope that helps some. Just curious, are there reasons why you're worried about the bubs that you would want to check him or her daily? xx

Have you heard of the book 'The No Cry Sleep Solution'? I found it really helpful with our daughter when she was younger. I also like Dr. Sears advice and have found his suggestions helpful. I've put a link to some below. Your son is right at the age where you son can be experiencing some serious separation anxiety. For us we use techniques to reassure our daughter and, I know it's not for everyone, we have a family bed where we all sleep together. She is 15 months and sleeps through the night and goes down with ease. In fact, when she's tired she often climbs in bed and lays down herself. It is our belief (my husband and mine) that we must continue to parent during the night and be as active as we are when we parent during the day. That means that we comfort her, we go to her, she doesn't cry her self to sleep and we don't push for self soothing. Because of this, I feel that we've made sleep a safe place to be in for her. Of course, every parent is different and every child is different. I remind myself that if we do have any nights where she is awake, and of course we do, that it is only temporary and that we will get through this stage. Usually she is most unsettled when she's on the brink of doing something new (ie crawling, walking, talking) or if she is not feeling well or getting new teeth in. For my daughter she is a very confident and social child during the day so that means that she often uses the night to process everything that she needs to as she grows and develops. So that means that days where she is super busy or overstimulated the nights might be a bit more rough than usual. I know it is her processing what she is learning and I try to be patient as I know that this is what her brain needs to develop. Here are a couple of links that I like: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/8-infant-sleep-facts-every-parent-should-know http://www.attachmentparenting.org/principles/night.php http://parentingbabytosleep.blogspot.com/2008/04/teaching-baby-to-self-sooth.html And just wanted to respectfully make a comment about M1dono's suggestion to follow Tizzie Hall. Tizzie Hall's advice has often been somewhat dangerous as it often goes against national guidelines for SIDS prevention and safe sleeping guidelines. Her advice for nursing mothers, advocating for a routine, has been well documented to hurt nursing relationships and cause decreased supply. Here are some links that talk about Tizzy Hall: http://parentingbabytosleep.blogspot.com/2008/02/save-our-sleep-by-tizzie-hall-or-tizzy.html http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/07/tizzie-hall-fsid-formal-request-for.html Not saying anything about the way that anyone else parents. Every mother needs to do what's right for her family and her baby. Just thought that I'd throw that info out there. Hugs to you, mama. I feel for you. Nighttimes with a little one can be awful sometimes. Know that you're not alone. xx <em>edited by SweetLily on 20/12/2011</em>

We use Soapnuts, also at Organics Cafe. I put them in and then pop a bit of baking soda and a few drops of essential oil into the machine to make the clothes nice and soft and smell wonderful. :) We use the same thing for all our clothes and washable nappies. I've often read that soaps leave a bit of residue to if you change it from wash to wash, for example using regular Tide in the adult clothes and then something more natural in the baby's clothes, then the Tide still ends up in with the baby's clothes anyway. So, from what I've read, it's best to use the same thing for all the washes.

I am interested! Are you able to email me a list of what you have? I would be very interested in the Moby and some other things if it's still available. :) My email is brookelynnbauer at gmail dot com. Thanks!

Sweetlilly, what kind of car do you drive? We drive a Mitsubishi Infinity. Are you asking because you wonder if the seat will fit your car? We were told (and it says on the description in the ad) that they are a really great seat and fit the vast majority of cars. We've put it in our friend's cars as well and have never had a problem. It's nice and narrow and light-weight so it's easy to travel with. We love it.

Just to ease your mind, Beatles19, the glucose test is pretty controversial still and isn't always a true indication of your glucose levels. Many countries don't ever administer the test at all. It is often inaccurate and unable to predict GD in the first place. Research suggests that something like 95% of mothers who are told that they have GD don't actually have it. Some doctors believe that "diagnosing and treating GDM is not only unnecessary but can cause more harm than good because labeling mother and baby with GDM can increase the risks of interventions, without clear evidence of benefit." (http://www.mothering.com/glucose-test) That harm and increase risk is something called the nocebo effect (more on that below). Here's an article that outlines the overdiagnosis controversy: http://journals.lww.com/obgynsurvey/Abstract/2003/11000/Gestational_Diabetes___A_Field_of_Controversy.24.aspx You don't have to take a glucose test at all if you don't want to. I have declined mine in pregnancy here in the UAE. I felt that I was healthy and since I'm a vegan and don't eat much sugar anyway if I were to take the test I would most likely test positive (or so said my nutritionist). So I didn't feel the need. But of course, it's a personal choice. Have you ever heard about the nocebo effect? It can happen when you have a lot of tests done and then are told that you are 'at risk'. The worry that this information causes (whether or not you are actually at risk) actually makes you sick. http://harvardmagazine.com/2005/05/the-nocebo-effect.html Super interesting stuff. A lot of doctors, researchers and midwives advocate for as little intervention (scans, tests and so on) during pregnancy to help the mother stay mentally positive and therefore keep her physical health as positive. I know in my first pregnancy we did everything medical. We got scans, took all the tests, visited doctor after doctor and in the end I was so worried about my health and my baby's health that I didn't trust my body at all. I didn't feel healthy and fit. It ended in a horrible and very traumatic 'emergency' section. This time around I have declined scans, I have declined the tests, I go to very few appointments - actually I've only been to one so far and am around 30 weeks - and instead I am trusting my body and my baby. I know that isn't for everyone but this time around I don't have the severe SPD that I had the first time around, I don't have the massive weight gain, I don't feel as tired, I'm not worried, I don't have edema and I don't feel sick. I feel strong and confident. I don't know. Just my two cents. I know that's not what your post was asking for so please ignore me if I've gone way too far off topic. :) If you have risk factors (history of GD for example, or were pretty overweight when you became pregnant) then you can get tested but what you are meant to do to manage GD is what you should do anyway in pregnancy. Eat healthy, exercise, monitor weight gain, etc. So to keep yourself healthy and your sugar levels down if you're worried about them, keep active and don't overeat, especially sweet and junk foods, and aim for even 15 to 30 minutes of light exercise three times a week, because this will benefit you and your baby and reduce the risk of GDM. Keeping your intake of sweet and starchy foods low, especially those with a high glycemic index is very important. (also from the Buckley article) But I'm curious why they administered the test so early? Usually if it is done it's not administered until the 24th week or so.