​Gestational diabetes (GDM) is the development of diabetes (blood sugar dysregulation) during pregnancy. It is usually diagnosed by a blood glucose challenge test between 24-28 weeks of gestation. It is important to prevent GDM because it can cause complications for mama and baby like pre-eclampsia and predisposition to diabetes after birth. The good news is, there is a lot that can be done to prevent and manage GDM to reduce the severity and risks for mama and baby!

GDM is a complex disease with several contributing factors, including a disruption in glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and changes in the gut health. Yoga Mamas Naturopathic Doctor, Samantha Zahavi lists 5 tips to help prevent and manage gestational diabetes.

​Moderate-intensity walking after meals can reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes and improve overall blood glucose control in women with GDM. Some studies show that walking 30 minutes after meals may be the optimal time frame in order to optimally modify the glycemic (blood sugar) response. Timing your walks in this way may have a greater positive influence on GDM than simply walking for 30 minutes per day at a non-specific time.

Prenatal mamas should aim for 25-30g of fibre/day in pregnancy. Unlike simpler carbohydrates (ie white bread), healthier complex carbohydrate options provide the body with essential fibre which is digested more slowly in the gastrointestinal tract and doesn’t get directly converted into sugar. These two factors explain why complex carbohydrates produce less significant post-meal blood sugar spikes and may lead to reductions in insulin resistance (an important factor in the development of GDM). Fibre also lowers the risk of obesity, heart disease and inflammatory illnesses.

The fibre content of food items can be found listed under the carbohydrate section in the nutritional breakdown. Higher fibre contents reduce the total amount of carbohydrate that gets converted directly into sugar. For example, a food item with 20g of total carbohydrates and 2g of fibre is a poorer option for blood sugar control than a food item with 20g of total carbohydrates with 15g being from fibre.

Downloading a Glycemic Index (GI) food guide may help you choose healthier carbohydrate options. You may download A Glycemic Index Food Guide, here: https://guidelines.diabetes.ca/docs/patient-resources/glycemic-index-food-guide.pdf

The Endocrine Society recommends limiting total carbohydrate intake to 35-45% of total calories/day for women with GDM. (Caloric needs differ amongst individuals but in general, it is recommended that pregnant women consume about 1,800 calories/day in first trimester, 2,200 in second trimester and around 2,400 calories/day in third trimester. Proper nutrition, however, should be based on consuming well-balanced meals and eating whole foods as much as possible, rather than focussing on counting calories.)

The amount of carbohydrates eaten at one time can proportionately raise blood sugar higher. Therefore, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends spacing your meals and carbohydrates out throughout the day, consuming three smaller meals and 2-4 snacks per day. Eating regularly and consuming smaller meals may help to decrease blood sugar spikes and improve glucose control in women with and without GDM.

Eating smaller and more regular meals may also help to reduce nausea, dizziness, shakiness and other unpleasant pregnancy symptoms.

Protein requirements naturally increase in pregnancy. Eating adequate amounts of protein in pregnancy can also help to offset nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, too! Since protein and fats take much longer to digest than carbohydrates they can keep you full longer throughout the day and offset spikes in blood sugar. This is why I always recommend that snacks consisting of carbohydrates be paired with a protein or healthy fat. For example, an apple with a handful of nuts and seeds or a whole grain piece of toast with avocado. 

When consuming fats, saturated fats should be avoided, especially for women with GDM. A high intake of saturated fats can interfere with insulin signalling and can increase inflammation and endothelial dysfunction which are both contributing factors in GDM. On the flip side, healthy fats, such as those derived from fish, seafood, some nuts and seeds can have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with a reduced risk of GDM.

Have you ever heard that breastfeeding hurts and that pain during nursing is normal? Well, painful breastfeeding is common mamas but it doesn't have to be. It is common because we often don’t have lactation support, we think it will come instinctively and natural but it doesn’t, and then we think it wasn’t meant for us. But breastfeeding is actually painless, we only need to learn how to do it.

​Here are some tips that I’ve used in my practice as a Yoga Mamas Lactation Consultant, for you to have a happy and painless breastfeeding journey!

Sometimes we want everything to be perfect and we try too hard. Baby-led latching is many times the solution for a painful latch. Letting our babies take the lead and follow their instincts to latch-on is often the easiest way to achieve a good latch, especially the first hour after birth. 

Lean back and place the baby skin to skin on top of you, tummy to tummy. Allow your baby to find your breast and latch. When your baby’s chin feels your breast, the mouth will open wide and latch. If you feel any discomfort, try again. 

​Still need help? Call an LC!
If you feel something’s not going well, if your baby refuses to latch-on or is not gaining weight, if you have sore nipples or are engorged, look for a Lactation Consultant (LC). They can watch a feeding and do a physical assessment of your breasts and baby’s mouth to identify the problem and help you fix it, you don’t have to go through this alone!