Type One Diabetic Mums To Be

[cupcakebakerer]

Hi,

I am nine weeks pregnant and have type one diabetes. I would love to find a network of women to discuss the trials and tribulations of coping with it all!

Congrats Kitty

That must have been quite a scary time. So glad to hear all is well with you and your little one.

I have my 12 week scan tomorrow. So nervous!

Just a wee update. Had my 12 week scan today and all was well. Well, the baby wasn't for moving for us, but they were happy with everything.

Aahhhhh MissC! That is so lovely! You're a mum! Congratulations. I am over the moon for you and it must feel like such a lovely reward after all that hard work during pregnancy. Is she gorgeous?

Thanks for that advice. That is really surprising and we will definitely watch out for that. I have been shocked at how quickly my insulin needs doubled and keep rising. It just feels wrong to be injecting so much without a serious incident! I am so unconfident about driving etc. after injecting myself with increasing amounts because it just seems to be changing everyday. Did you find that too?

Falling - I am really pleased for you! Do you feel a bit more at ease? The truth is though you will never not worry again! Can you tell people your lovely news now?

Thanks Cupcake. Do I feel more at ease? A little.. But I think you are right about never being free of worry now. We had already told most family and friends but I won't be telling work yet. Have applied for a promotion and don't want to complicate things. Mind you, I can't wait for ever, I am getting quite fat! Wish they would hurry up with the interviews.

My diabetes nurse was telling me to be prepared for needing a load of insulin - can't imagine taking huge doses without hypos - hope you are managing OK.

cupcake It is so wonderful to me a mom. I just can't get enough of her. She is gorgeous, looks just like her daddy. And she has so much hair!! As they lifted her out during the section the FIRST thing the surgeon said was 'oh my god look at the hair'

With the insulin side of things I did find that it changed on a daily basis and just went up and up and up. My basal rate went from 9.6 ml pre pregnancy to 30 ml just before I delivered and I went from using a ratio of 1 unit insulin to 10g of carbs all the way up to 1.5 insulin units to 5g of carbs!! All I can say is check, check and check your sugars and keep dextrose tablets with you at all times while you get used to making your adjustments, just in case.

falling Glad you scan went well. Its very reassuring when you see them on the screen. Don't worry about the lack on movement. Baby will soon be bouncing around all over the place, especially when you are trying to sleep

Ah I LOVE babies with hair!!! We are getting so excited now and can't wait to meet our little bubba! I'm glad everything is going well for you both: we definitely deserve it after all the hard work! Keep us all updated :)

Hi girls. Hope you're all well. Having a little bit of a panic. Was in for a scan today and the baby's tummy is measuring big -which they said was quite common in women with diabetes. I'm worried at what this could lead to? I have been controlled (HBA1C of 5.9 and then 5.4) but in these last weeks it's all 'gone wrong' due to soaring insulin requirements. Any advice?

Hi all

Hope you don't mind me 'crashing' your thread; I've been reading it for a while but felt (stupidly?!) that joining in would be tempting fate too early in my pregnancy..... I'm now 16 weeks, having had type 1 Diabetes for 11 years and thought I'd say that the guilt/anxiety/pressure of managing Diabetes during pregnancy is affecting me too. It is sooooo reassuring to see other girls going through the same thing! I'm generally doing ok I think, but as others have pointed out, hitting

Oh Duples! I totally know what you mean about 'tempting fate' but I reckon we're quite safe here as noone knows who we are really!

Congratulations - at 16 weeks you really are ticking along nicely. Did everything seem okay at your 12 week scan?

I really wouldn't wish the stress of having type one diabetes AND being pregnant on anyone (although it would be 'helpful' if some people I know could experience it just for a couple of hours...it's so easy not to 'get' what it's like and brush it off as 'no big deal'.)

Truth be told I'm 26 weeks now and still haven't relaxed. In fact I've been told today that things are going to get a lot harder now - as our insulin requirements rocket in the last trimester.

I have to say my team at the hospital are absolutely fantastic. The only bugbear I have is the whole 7.8 in an hour thing - and the lack of understanding how nigh on impossible this is. For me at least it's just been an unobtainable. During the first three months I stuck to two hours (which is what's recommended on the Diabetes UK website) and now I do try and aim for one and a half hours - although that's still VERY hard (having to have more carbs to avoid a hypo etc etc etc).

Sorry for the essay - it's just so nice to have a vent with someone who really understands (although our loved ones do do their best).

You're so right cupcakebakerer! My scans so far have been fine, though it is still early days. At a check-up today my Consultant told me that stressing out too much wasn't good for me or the baby! Oh well then! My HbA1C was 5.8, unbelievable, I've never had it so low, wish I could say it was a breeze..... to try to avoid too many lows but still meet most targets, they advised at the hospital on having insulin 15 minutes before food, and having snacks before you start to feel low (if you see what I mean). Makes sense but I can't help thinking I'd prefer the hypos to potential damage to the baby- I know that is a bit daft though. Someone told me hypos can be worse during pregnancy, not sure why though, whether it is just that the risk of a bad hypo on, e.g., driving, is greater when it isn't just your body to think about? I was also put on aspirin for the rest of the pregnancy. Wish I'd listened to why! Not sure if this is a Diabetes thing or just a general good practice thing? Roll on calm and positive pregnancy thoughts for all......

Hi all, and welcome *Duples I am coming up on 14 weeks so we are quite close together! Just got my HBA1c and the latest was 6.3! I am so pleased as I was worried about a few highs in the 1st trimester.

I have a great team and go to a diabetes maternity clinic every 2 weeks - guess you all do the same? They are more focussed on trying to get me to relax and not have too many hypos. In fact they ssaid that the 2hr target was unrealistic and I should care more about my pre-meal values. They said as long as HBA1c is good and I am on top of things the 2hr value isn't the be all and end all. They also gave me that tip about taking insulin 15 mins before eating, which has helped bring things down a bit (I do still have an eye on the 2 hr target). Also I have got a demi-pen, which does half-units. It is good for me as I carb count and also correct highs so can be more precise - don't know if it would help any of you?

Cupcake sorry you have had the worry about your baby's tum. I have also heard it is common. I guess it is important to remind ourselves that no matter what we do, our sugars can't be the same as a non-diabetic's, and we can't have a perfect pregnancy (whatever that is). I'm sure someone else on here had a baby who was measuring large round the abdomen (also diabetic) and everything was fine. I've never heard it leading to any problems apart from if the baby ends up big you may need a c-section. But ask your team, that's what they are there for. You are so on top of things, I am amazed what a short time you have had diabetes for!

Second the positive pregnancy thoughts!

Hi Duples - I'm on apsrin. At first I was reluctant to take it (I have a funny thing about taking medications willy nilly). But my husband now forces it down my neck every night). It's to avoid pre-eclampsia which us Type Ones are at risk of (which can cause still birth - so more good news then - ha!). It's very effective though apparently, so get it down you!

Your HBA1C is fantastic. WELL DONE! I bet you were smiling when you got that back. Mine was similar (5.9 and then 5.4) and the hospital think I'm some kind of pregnancy diabetic poster child! So you have reason to be very proud of yourself - many hover around the 7.0 mark. If you look at the risk charts online having a HBA1C like that puts you at the same 'risks' as someone with a 'normal' pregnancy. So be positive :) (I should really take my own advice mind...)

As for hypos...I just make sure I test VERY regularly (about 12 times a day). That way I normally catch myself on the 'way down' if that makes sense? So if it's 5 or under after just an hour and a half of eating I know I should really have a small snack to bring it back up and avoid a hypo. What a bloody hassle on eh?!

• asprin!

Thanks for your words Falling. And can I just say...6.3!!! Well done!! I know how worried you've been so that must be a huge relief.

What you said about the 2hr thing has really helped put my mind at rest too - my sugars have gone so wrong in the last few weeks it's scary, despite my best efforts.

I keep meaning to try this 15 minute before eating thing as it makes sense...right tomorrow I shall give it a go and report back :)

cupcake Re: larger abdomen on scan. My baby girl had a larger tummy than average on all her scans. It IS quite common in diabetic moms and nothing to worry about as long as all her other measurements are 'normal' and in line with your dates. You seem to be doing a fab job of keeping your sugars in line (

Thanks for your words MissC - very reassuring. Yep all the other measurements are normal: just a big fat tummy - It sounds so cute it's hard not to laugh!

On another note...has anyone seen these fabulous Continuous Monitoring Systems? Imagine how much better life would be if all Type One diabetics had one, particularly us pregnant girlies. Take a look:

www.minimed.com/products/guardian/

The problem is they cost about £2,500 to fund privately and then about £6 a day for the needle thing.

Would you all find it helpful? My life would totally change. I'm thinking of writing to my MP about it. Let me know your thoughts.

Just seen how to display a link:

[[http://www.minimed.com/products/guardian/
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