The Blessing in the Glucose

When I was pregnant with each one of my kids, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Both times I made strong commitments to myself, to G-d and to the unborn fetus that I would adhere to the strictest of diets and do lots of exercise in order to protect my child from sugar issues, G-d forbid, and to prevent myself from c-sections( I had a bowel resection for Crohn's Disease in 1996 and abdominal surgery frightens me to no end). The doctors put the fear of G-d in women with GD about having large babies, needing c-sections, etc.I am eternally grateful to G-d for giving me strength and discipline to do as I committed to doing and for allowing me to experience the intense beauty of natural childbirth both times. More importantly, I thank Him every day for providing me with two healthy children with perfect birth weights and without any sugar problems.

Today I had to go for a follow up sugar test in order to make sure that what I had was indeed gestational diabetes and not a more chronic case. The glucose I had to drink was vile, but after I drank it, I stopped to think for a minute about the blessing that was hidden in the glucose.

I am a self diagnosed Ben & Jerry's addict. It is a serious danger to leave me alone with a tub, as it can easily disappear without any evidence of ever having existed(I'm sure many of my readers can relate...That stuff is heavenly!). Gestational diabetes meant that I couldn't go anywhere near the stuff for 9 whole months. It was hard work for sure and required insane amounts of discipline, especially when I was pregnant in the hot summer months...But that very difficult challenge made me step up to the plate and be strong for the sake of my kids and my fear of  c-sections.

This morning, as I gulped down the sickly sweet glucose, turning up my nose and using every last bit of strength not to throw it up, I suddenly smiled as I looked at my two little darlings in their stroller. So what if I deprived myself of Ben & Jerry's for 9 months? So what if this tastes horrific? I have two healthy kids, thank G-d. I am blessed.


With Love,

Cigal