Any pregnant Type 1 diabetics?

[dieciocho]

Hi,
I'm looking for other pregnant Type 1 diabetics in London, just to have someone to keep in contact with and share advice/horror stories/support each other etc.
I don't actually know anyone at all with Type 1, despite having had it myself since 1989

Hi all - pleased someone has raised BFing as I'm already worried about it.

On the 'stress getting up' point. I think your doc is really clumsily describing dawn phenomenon which I am really troubled with. Your body around dawn just starts to release hormones in preparation for getting up and getting going. Wouldn't describe it as 'stress' in the psychological sense, but suppose it is stress on your body... Anyway, the effect of that can be to raise your blood glucose steadily from around 5am. If I wake and am above 7, I will often take 1u Novo just to stop it.

On breastfeeding... I am sooooo keen for me not to be forced into giving ANY formula if I can avoid, and if so definitely not by bottle. Rue - was cup feeding alright in the sense that although baby was getting formula at least he/she was not getting nippple confusion?

And does anyone understand the justification? Why can our breastmilk not be used to raise the baby's sugar levels? Is it because colustrum is not as 'rich' in the first few days until your milk comes in? Can I fight back on this?

I've also heard about expressing before birth but no clue how it actually works. If it is an alternative to using formula I will definitely be looking into it. Does anyone know of someone doing it successfully?

Bona if baby just has some formula in the first week then goes on to ebm their gut will go back to being a 'virgin gut'. It's much more dense that bm though I'm conflicted. Need to know how much sugar is in colostrum. I don't know anyone who's expressed pre birth but I'm going to try it. I know of people who have breast fed adopted children put bodies are so clever!

We gave DS the formula with a syringe. After we had two levels above the level needed (can't remember what it was) that was it. To be honest the hospital I had him at is a specialist BF hospital and only gives out formula in cases of medical need. I don't think they would have insisted if it wasn't necessary. I was that worried he was 'low' I would have given him a vat of it! No probs with BFing as a result but I can totally understand your concern. The nurse I asked today didn't know but I'd love to know if our milk is sufficient!

My hospital want you to hand express (into a syringe, v fiddly!) pre birth precisely to avoid having to give formula, so I guess it must be. I know colostrum is very rich in nutrients and since LO is only taking v small amounts in the first couple of days (10 ml a feed was considered exceptional for DS) it must be full of sugar, surely?!

Sorry Bona I forgot to answer the question! Yes, cup feeding avoids any nipple confusion - DS was cup fed expressed milk fairly often when in SCBU on overnight feeds when I wasn't there, it never put him off (once the lazy effort had learnt how to suck!).

Well I never. Very annoyed that it wasn't explained to me that you can rely just on the colostrum to boost their levels back up. They did have mine in a syringe too as I was effectively 'milked' by a midwife! Least I know for the time. But like I said no probs BFing with DS. In fact we had problems ever getting him to take a bottle of expressed milk which he wouldn't do for nine long months!

I found this info on colostrum. Not sure how accurate it is. Interesting though

Oh my God so pissed off!!!!!!! I actually can't believe that. I would never have given him formula (on the first days of his life no less!) if I'd have been told. That is quite shocking. Thanks for posting it.

I remember dd couldn't absorb the formula so it's makes sense that colostrum would be better. I'm definitely going to look into the expressing a bit more...

I have heard about colostrum 'harvesting'. I was leaking it from about 28 weeks last time so might stock up!

First trimester HBA1c 6.5. Not fantastic but better than 7.5 which is what I booked in with at 2 weeks pregnant! Does anyone have any info about HBA1C and how it correlates with risks? My hba1c was far better last time around but I'm cutting myself some slack in that I tend to have a toddler swinging from my neck!

How are you all?

HbA1c is a fairly rubbish way of assessing any risks afaik - it's better to look at the overall pattern of post-meal spikes etc to try and get a more stable level all the time. If you're swinging from high to low and back you can still have a good HbA1c cos it's just an average.

Which reminds me...must get my book out and write all my readings down!

I've run out of test strips and can't get any until Monday according to my ever so helpful pharmacy

Spotty - you can't do without test strips until Monday, that's ridiculous, not to mention dangerous. If you drive, it's illegal! Tell the pharmacy they'll have to do you a special order or go to another pharmacy and see if they'll let you borrow some pending a prescription (i've had several do this for me before).

puds - that is a very respectable hba1c. I found a long and complex article about risk correlation, but to be honest it was pretty depressing so I deleted it and now can't find it again! As Rue says, though, what's important is avoiding highs and lows, so although it is important to have a good hba1c it isn't the be all and end all. Just keep test test testing!

My bump has suddenly just gone "pop" and stuck out. It was literally overnight on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (which funnily enough was the day I went from 14+6 to 15+0). I've now had two people I don't know ask me if I'm pregnant instead of people I do know just eyeing me strangely as if undecided whether to ask. Am actually delighted as it just makes it all feel more real!

Spotty get them to give you an emergency prescription - demand it! Mine does it often as I'm not the most organised when it comes to strips. You need them!

Yes I will go and see them tomorrow. I have a few left. It annoys me because I always ask for four packs and only get one which only lasts about five days!

Thanks ladies. Well that's positive for me as although generally higher my levels have been a lot steadier this time around.

Bona - I can't wait for a proper bump! I'm getting a lot of 'is she isn't she' looks. Had my 12 week scan yesterday so at least I can now say 'yes I am!'

spotty - that is just silly. What does your repeat prescription say? I had them specifically right on mine 4x50 (ie 4 boxes) and I get that every single time. For goodness sake, you have a chronic medical condition and you are pregnant - they can't drip feed you the medical supplies you need to stay alive!!

puds - sorry, didn't catch that on the thread about your scan. YAY! Was everything fine and dandy then I take it?

There are quite a few people at work for example that don't know still. I am not being secretive about it, but at the same time I'm not the type to make a big announcement, so I am just telling people if / when it comes up and letting the rumour mill do its job. The looks I'm getting are quite amusing! I have also not put anything on facebook. I just feel like the people I'm close to will know because I've told them - the rest I don't feel a burning urge to tell.

I don't know because they keep the repeat and I phone them. The past few times they've sent me the ketone test strips instead of bm ones. I really hate getting repeats it's such a hassle! And they're all so miserable in there.

What's everyone eating for breakfast? I don't like milk or eggs and find it so hard! Give me a pop tart anyday

Spotty - call your doctors surgery and ask to speak to your docs secretary. (s)he'll be able to do you a prescription on the spot, and can normally up the number of pots of strips you're getting, especially if you explain that they're lasting you less than a week. it's ridiculous!

What strips do you have? Mine are for the contour if that's any good? Shout and I can stick some in the post 1st class if you PM me the info.

Definitely. I get totally pissed off if I have to go in more than twice a month, never mind every 5 days!!!!

I have the Glucomen one, but thanks for the offer

Oh I've still got my old tester I think, I can just use that! Ill have to have a look when I get home

You can buy strips over the counter by the way - I had to do that once when I just forgot them when I went to my parents for the week. Expensive though, they're about £25 for a pot of 50 for the Contour and I imagine others are similar.

It is often cheaper to buy a meter over the counter, most of which come with a pot of - say - 17 strips included in the price. Might be cheaper than buying the strips and then you have a spare meter into the bargain!

I really, really want a Chinese but have avoided it so far this pregnancy as I never know how much insulin to have. I would have half a portion of chow mein and a portion of crispy shredded beef (in a sweet chilli sauce). I have no clue? And should I do my injection half an hour earlier?