A successful VBAC story !! 😁

After ages i felt the need to write this blog . I would be immensely happy even if it helps one pregnant women pass through the tough phase of Gestational diabetics and the emotional trauma.

I must say i had a blessed first pregnancy but was challenging towards the fag end of my delivery with stalled labor and ended up having a C section . Though diminished from my memory on the experiences but now when i am almost ready for delivering the second baby i get reminded of every single pain and tough phase i had been through .

Although my second pregnancy was a shocking surprise( Can't deny the fact i wanted another sibling for Aryan ) it came with a package called "Gestational Diabetics". Failed glucose tests put me through a schedule of testing my blood sugars every few hours , periodic screening for high risk pregnancy and a ridiculous diet.

Initially accepting the changes and settling down was so traumatic . But eventually i made up my mind strong to accept the challenge with my very supportive friend who had been through the same phase as mine . Handling all these with a full time job , separate food for my son and husband was exhausting . Every day mantra of mine would be is "This too shall pass " . Little did i know on the other side of being emotionally vulnerable to even small things around.

It all started with planning my meals so i can have less carbs and more protein but still the typical south Indian vegetarian inside me was tough to handle. I started saying to myself all this is for my baby, my body demands the diet and workout for a healthy delivery . This gave me a lot of confidence and finally met with my diet consultant for discussing the options. She taught me on how to prick the fingers for testing my blood sugars . Sounds awful but i after a few days it wasn't even a big deal.

I was given a diet plan based on my food patterns, but unfortunately nothing could calm down my elevated blood sugars. Lots of trail and error had to be done and also my baby bump was growing steadily making physical workouts a tedious one. I couldn't handle carbs at all but at the same time i was very scared to even opt for medications. Initial 2 weeks i begged my doctor to not give me any medication i want time to study my body and change my meal portions accordingly. It was very stressful to avoid team lunches , Friends hangout/potlucks over the weekend and as a matter of fact a normal meal or craving of a pregnant women was beyond my reach. I started hating myself for what i was and how miserable my situation was . Little did i know that stress was the major culprit in spiking my blood sugars .

With so many discussions , suggestions from my dear friend i was able to listen to my body and clam myself down to an extend.

Day to day routine :

Wake up to test my fasting sugar ( fasting for 8-10 hrs , unimaginable for a pregnant hungry soul !! ) . It was always out of control ,more than 90 mg/DL .

Prepare my breakfast which should only have 15 gms of carbs . No bread , no cereal , no fruits , no milk damn i was so lost . Finally there came a rescue to my starvation "Low carb tortilla from walmart/Sams " . I used to stuff it with cheese ,paneer, greek yogurt , cucumber , lettuce which are either least carb sources or vegetarian friendly proteins. After all these research it was still not enough i had to burn the little i ate before going to office . I started walking as much as i can ~20 mins and get my son ready to get to work .

Still at office i used to get up from desk to use the farthest restroom or roam around to control my spike . 2 hours later to my first bite i would test my morning blood sugar it fluctuated a bit but i was able to balance it out successfully. Limit was to keep it under 120 mg/DL.

Then came the lunch portion which was a little bit easy , but portion control was the key , i had to choose lots of veggies , soups that are non starchy , rice is a big no and so were dhals . My typical balanced out meal was 2 tablespoon of steel cut oats/2 tablespoon of cooked millet ( only foxtail millet was  friendly ) + low starch veggies 1 cup + low starch soup ( pressure cooked and blended ) + greek yogurt. For most of them the carbs from veggies were not counted , but for me i learnt i had to count that as well . So i started using FITNESS PAL app for my meal plan ahead of time so i can cook before hand and go to work .

I started making it a habit to come home for lunch which i usually don't but this diet demanded me to do it . Then walk for almost 30-45 mins . Most of the days i will have to literally push myself to get back to office or  i chose to nap on my couch . Still my blood sugars were on and off . I used to get very nervous when i take my testing kit . My hands would just tremble and i would curse myself for not accepting the fact of using meds and putting my baby at risk . Some strange force drove me through it and with the same diet , calm mindset ( again stress was the culprit ) i was able to keep my blood sugar under control .


Now with the very small portion that i had eaten with just veggies i would feel so hungry in 2 hrs . Dinner is not until at-least 7 PM , there came my protein snacks for rescue . Nuts nuts nuts !!! yes i went NUTS eating nuts and premier protein shake was a delight . I ate the allowed limits of 15 gms of carb snack. Still at times i will feel shaky but somehow got used to that pattern .

Dinner was my favorite of all . I could have low carb tortilla with grilled paneer, capsicum ( only green though ;)) and some left over soup /veggies from afternoon with greek yogurt. But walking is the key post every meal . Basically burn all that you eat was the key !!

All these came with a most challenging naughty toddler but my husband was so supportive . At times my expectation went a little over board which ended up in arguments and frustration . Poor soul he handled most of my tantrums . There were little tiffs here and there but hardly i could remember those. Thanks to my pregnancy mind. 

Again fast over night after my night snack of 3 peanut butter sandwich cookies and sleep .
To the worst of my expectation , the monotony of same food over and over again with vigorous walks depressed me a lot . I did have domestic help but i was confused as to what i want . Food stress is the worst of all . I was gaining weight at a very steady pace which my doctor was very appreciative of me and used to boost my mind stating i am one strong fighter . I did see a balance in my fasting sugars which is when i was completely ruled out of medication and stamped diet controlled gestational diabetic.

Until my 37 weeks things were on and off but not very stressful or depressing . After that came unexpected twists of me being less mobile due to pelvic pain , baby is breech blah blah . I had constantly motivated myself assuming all this diet and workout is dumped on me just for a reason that i will end up having a normal vaginal delivery (not so much fun hearing from my fellow mommy friends :| ) .

Frustrated to the core that despite baby turning head down i was not dilated , boring meals while the others relish their meal . Dosa , Idly , Rice was all i craved for . Still my guilt would kill me if i touched those . Started working from home at 38 weeks pushing me to the worst of all time. I was home bound , restricted myself from driving , no meal tasted good . I was depressed , i used to lock up in my room and cry for hours together or starring at the wall thinking all the worst . Bad enough it increased my stress levels unimaginably . I was back to the pavilion of being a worst mom who cannot spend time with my toddler son as he started sleeping with his grandparents and i practically dint do anything for him . I started missing him a lot and thereby adding more fuel to the fire.

Frequent doctor visits stating the same you are not dilated , nothing can be done but schedule a C section . I was so damn frustrated where i am unable to accept the fact despite being diet controlled , physically active  , squats , birthing ball, literally denying the scheduled c section and waiting hopelessly just for my mere mental satisfaction for the miracle to kick start my labor .

At 39 + 5 weeks feeling lost in the world of emotions waiting to hold my baby despite knowing the fact that a vaginal delivery would be more painful . But deep down as a women and a mom i wanted to experience the pain and be proud of being stubborn on VBAC. Chances are very slim else will go for a scheduled C section next week.


Saving the best for the last i don't know what i would have done without my mom who has been my go to person for letting my frustration , still not being around with her when i needed her the most depresses me but I am matured enough to accept the fact she will always be around in my thoughts ... missing my parents but at-least i see them in the form of my husband who just handles me well during stressful times and the close friend of mine "Arthi" .She is like my soul sister, go to person for anything that i undergo be it happy or sad moments. Trusting in god and ending this blog with hope .

As a story without the ending i am writing to be continued ..........