When my oldest daughter was almost 2, I started to realize that she wasn’t progressing with her language skills like her friends were.    We started the process of getting her assessed by a Speech Pathologist in order to see if she required speech therapy.    They determined that she could benefit from the “First Words Program”.  Unfortunately, it takes a long time to get in.  It has been a full year, and she still hasn’t had therapy.  We decided to go the private route and pay for it ourselves.  That was beneficial, but you really have to be determined because its more work for the parents.  Unfortunately, I am a very sensitive person.  Anytime people make comments like “Boy, she isn’t talking much” or “Wow, you should try this” or “Maybe you aren’t stimulating her enough at home” etc; I go home and I cry my eyes out for about 2 hours.  I find as a mother, I take everything personally.  It is my full time job and I take pride in it.  So, when someone makes me feel like I am not doing a good job, it really hurts me.

Anyways, I have recently been researching this.  My pediatrician told me its not my fault.  In fact, he even had a child with speech delay.  I bring her to play groups, gymnastics, literacy programs everyday to stimulate her brain.  Some of my friends never went to playgroups or anything and their children talk circles around mine.  So then I ask, why is this?

I was doing some research about pregnancy complications linked to speech delay.  I came across some clinical studies that talked about how babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes were more likely to have speech delays.  I thought this was very interesting.  I had gestational diabetes with both my pregnancies, but with my first daughter I was not managed properly.  My doctor brushed it off and didn’t send me for any diet counselling until I was 35 weeks pregnant.  I didn’t even get a glucoscan to check my sugars.  My second pregnancy, I had a different doctor and I was managed wonderfully. 

I would love it if anyone reading this that may have their own story to share about this subject, PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS.  I am very interested in seeing how many people out there may be going through the same problem.  It is also helpful in knowing that we are all not alone.  Please, speak up!!!