ADMob memory increase - ios

Question

I am looking to improve my memory usage on my app and noticed that using AdMob is adversely affecting my application.
Specifically, with this code:
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
multipleAdsOptions.numberOfAds = 5
let imageAdOptions = GADNativeAdImageAdLoaderOptions()
adLoader = GADAdLoader(adUnitID: "ca-app-pub-xxxxxxxx", rootViewController: self, adTypes: [GADAdLoaderAdType.native], options: [multipleAdsOptions, imageAdOptions])
adLoader.delegate = self
GADMobileAds.sharedInstance().requestConfiguration.testDeviceIdentifiers = [ kGADSimulatorID.description() ]
DispatchQueue.main.async {
self.adLoader.load(GADRequest())
}
..
..
}
I noticed that each time I trigger a viewDidLoad in my application for this code, it increases the memory used by about 10-15mb. If I quickly tap in and out of this screen (which is actually a common action) I can get the MB usage up as high as I want until I stop. I noticed that this line of code is of course the culprit:
self.adLoader.load(GADRequest())
If I comment that out, my app stays at a clean 50mb and even appears to run much better overall.
Am I using AdMob wrong here? should I be loading the ads once and never calling load again in my viewdidload? This is a highly trafficked screen and my test users are reporting app sluggishness until they restart.
This is my main screen (root view controller) and it contains a feed of products and I also have an AdvertisementFeedCell where I load an ad every 5 items in this feed if that makes sense.
class AdvertisementFeedCell: UITableViewCell {
#IBOutlet var adMedia: GADNativeAdView!
#IBOutlet var adHeadline: UILabel!
#IBOutlet var unifiedNativeAdView: GADNativeAdView!
override func awakeFromNib() {
super.awakeFromNib()
}
}
When I populate my table, I insert a new item every 5 spots for an Ad:
let count = self.feedItems.count / 5
//Insert an ad every 5
if (count > 0)
{
for i in 1...count
{
let adFeedItem = FeedItem()
adFeedItem.isAdvertisement = true
self.feedItems.insert(adFeedItem, at: i * 5)
}
}
self.reloadTable()
And when my tableview populates with data, I check if the item is of typeadvertisement
override func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let feedItem = feedItems[indexPath.row]
if (feedItem.isAdvertisement)
{
let cell:AdvertisementFeedCell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "adCell")! as! AdvertisementFeedCell
if (ads.count > 0 && indexPath.row > 1)
{
let nativeAd = ads[(indexPath.row / 5) - 1]
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.nativeAd = nativeAd
cell.adHeadline.text = nativeAd.headline!
//If there is an icon, use that
if (nativeAd.icon != nil)
{
(cell.unifiedNativeAdView.iconView as? UIImageView)?.image = nativeAd.icon?.image
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.mediaView?.isHidden = true
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.iconView?.isHidden = false
}
else {
//Otherwise, Add Media and hide icon
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.mediaView?.contentMode = UIViewContentMode.scaleToFill
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.mediaView?.mediaContent = nativeAd.mediaContent
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.mediaView?.isHidden = false
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.iconView?.isHidden = true
}
cell.frame = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 375, height: 108 )
//Add body text if available
(cell.unifiedNativeAdView.bodyView as? UILabel)?.text = nativeAd.body
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.bodyView?.isHidden = nativeAd.body == nil
cell.clipsToBounds = true
cell.unifiedNativeAdView.clipsToBounds = true
}
return cell
}
Thank you!