Gestational Diabetes – How Can Loote Ultrahelikeskus Help You?

 

Pregnancy does not always progress as calmly and smoothly as we hope in the beginning. One of the reasons women turn to us is gestational diabetes or suspicion of it. Today, it affects approximately one in six pregnancies in Estonia.

 

Receiving such a diagnosis can raise many questions. Is the baby alright? Have I done something wrong? What happens next?

 

I want to reassure women that they are not alone with this problem. Gestational diabetes does not mean that something has gone wrong. It simply means that your pregnancy requires more careful and informed monitoring.

Our approach is not based on a single test or one appointment. We look at the pregnancy as a whole – fetal development, growth, placental function, and your own health.

 

As a fetal medicine specialist, everything begins for me with one simple but most important question: is the fetus developing normally?

 

In early pregnancy, the baby’s organs are forming, and this is the most sensitive stage of the entire pregnancy. In diabetes, there is a slightly increased risk of fetal anomalies. For this reason, we perform detailed ultrasound examinations at Loote Ultrahelikeskus, aiming to assess fetal development as precisely as possible.

 

At the same time, we always think one step ahead. Already in early pregnancy, during the first trimester, fetal anatomy ultrasound at 12 weeks, we assess not only fetal development, but also the risk of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. During this visit, the midwife takes blood tests, measures blood pressure, and collects a detailed medical history, which also helps evaluate risk factors for gestational diabetes.

 

This allows us to identify women at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes early in pregnancy and, if necessary, refer them for further investigations at the right time.

 

If you belong to this risk group, we offer an oral glucose tolerance test to detect gestational diabetes early. Even if the initial result is normal, this does not necessarily mean the issue is resolved — we repeat the test between 24–26 weeks of pregnancy, as this is the period when gestational diabetes most commonly develops.

 

For me, it is important that the diagnosis is not delayed.

 

As pregnancy progresses, the focus changes. It is no longer only about development, but also about how the baby grows.

 

In pregnancies complicated by diabetes, fetal growth may become excessive or, in some cases, slower than expected.

 

At Loote Ultrahelikeskus, ultrasound is not simply about measurements. During every examination, we assess fetal growth, anatomy and development, placental function, and fetal well-being.

When necessary, we use advanced ultrasound examinations and computerized CTG monitoring, which provide an objective and precise overview of the baby’s condition.

 

It is also important to anticipate situations where a standard abdominal ultrasound may not provide sufficient information. Therefore, at our center, fetal development can be assessed as early as 16–17 weeks of pregnancy using transvaginal ultrasound—especially in women in whom later visualization may be limited due to increased maternal body weight.

 

Around 20 weeks of pregnancy, we perform a detailed fetal anomaly scan to evaluate fetal development and exclude possible structural abnormalities. At the same time, we reassess the risk of preeclampsia and evaluate the effectiveness of any earlier preventive treatment.

 

In the third trimester, one of the most important questions becomes fetal growth.

 

At around 32 weeks of pregnancy, we perform an ultrasound examination to detect either fetal growth restriction or excessive fetal growth at an early stage. This is a very important moment, as further monitoring and clinical decisions depend on these findings.

 

We do not rely solely on fundal height measurements, which may be inaccurate, but instead use ultrasound to assess fetal growth dynamics as precisely as possible.

Toward the end of pregnancy, around 36 weeks, we perform an ultrasound to assess fetal position, growth, and well-being. Based on this examination, we can estimate fetal weight and determine the safest mode of delivery. If necessary, we also evaluate fetal lung maturity to determine whether the baby is ready for birth.

 

Based on this information, it is possible to create an individualized birth management plan for you.

 

This is not a general recommendation, but a specific plan based on the condition of you and your baby. Together, we discuss the optimal timing of delivery and whether vaginal birth or operative delivery would be safer in your situation.

 

And perhaps most importantly — you do not go into childbirth without knowing what is happening.

 

You know your baby’s condition.
You know how your baby has grown.
And you know what the next step will be.

 

During this journey, you are not alone.

 

At Loote Ultrahelikeskus, we work as a team, and midwife Jane plays a very important role. She provides nutritional counseling, performs glucose tolerance tests, and teaches you how to use continuous glucose monitoring. She helps you understand how your body responds and how to keep it balanced.

 

If this is not sufficient, we involve an endocrinologist in your care. Our goal is for you to have support and a clear plan, even in more complicated situations.

 

The goal of Loote Ultrahelikeskus is not to perform more examinations, but to perform the right examinations at the right time and to support you throughout your pregnancy journey.

 

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or there is suspicion of it, you are welcome at our center.

 

Dr Marek Šois
Gynecologist specializing in fetal medicine