Your next pregnancy and gestational diabetes

Two out of three women who have had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy will have it again during a future pregnancy. (Gestational diabetes goes away as soon as your baby is born.)

Preparing for a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby starts before you get pregnant. Make sure you do the following as you plan for your next pregnancy.

• Get your blood glucose checked before you get pregnant. Make an appointment at your clinic to have your blood glucose checked before you stop taking birth control.
• When you're pregnant again, tell your health care provider of your gestational diabetes history at your first prenatal visit.
• Expect to have a glucose screening at this visit.
• If the test is negative, screenings will be repeated at 24 to 28 weeks and again at 32 weeks.
• If the test is positive, monitoring and meal plan strategies will begin.
• If you find out you are pregnant but did not plan the pregnancy, get your blood glucose checked right away. You will be able to start treatment early if your blood glucose is high.