Pregnant type 1 diabetics, step over here...

[RueDeWakening]

I seem to have filled up the old thread and thought I better start a new one! Still got ages to go, don't leave me now...

Am currently sat waiting for my 16 week antenatal appt, been here an hour so far and just had BP done and that's it.

Awwww congratulations Diec!!! So pleased for you that she's safe and sound - and what a lovely, lovely name!

Becoming a mum is a real journey and adventure - looking at DS now (currently pulling stuff over) I can't believe he's grown from a tiny little baby to a little person who thinks he's counting in his PJs and wellies (doo, dee, dor, dee, da is one to five.) I for one have found it an absolute shocker to come to terms with being a mum but I wouldn't change it. They are little miracles!

Welcome to the world little Violet our second thread baby! Yay!

Xx

Aww diec huge congratulations!! violet is a lovely name so glad u are both well and agree with puds enjoy the newborn time it passes soo quickly.

spotty, no, no tube feeding - not even sure what that is! We're home now, so I'm using syringes, but it's not easy/quick/satisfying for her. Hence our cheating at night...

Im just out my 4d scan but baby was not playing ball at all, breech position legs over head basically curled up in a ball lol ive to go back in 2 weeks time so fingers crossed moved or at least showing face by then!!

Ah ok I'm with you! Hole you're getting help with the feeding? Glad she didn't need SCBU

Congrats Diec :o and welcome to the world baby Violet!

It can take a little while to get feeding sorted, esp when they're early. I did manage to BF both mine for a year, but with DS, who was born at 31 weeks, it took a good couple of months to get properly established, and we continued mix feeding him for the first 6 months as he needed fattening up (not something you normally say about our babies, that - he was 1.6kg at birth, compared to DD's 4.3kg!). So keep persevering, there's lots of support around if you need it - La Leche League, NCT BFing support line, local BF drop-in groups etc etc.

Diec - congratulations! We've all been wondering about you all week and so glad to hear that Baby Violet is here safe and sound. Beautiful name!

Feeding sounds tricky, but it does sound like you are getting there and no doubt as Violet gets bigger and your milk comes through you will both be fine with it!

I have just booked to see a London-based private lactation consultant at the 36 weeks mark (I think you are in London too?) Obviously I haven't met her yet, but she seems lovely and has experience of helping diabetic women. There are three of them who work together, and I'm seeing the one called Siobhan Pearce - website here: www.breastfeedinglondon.co.uk/#/about-us/4558615712

I think it's £70 for an initial home visit of 1.5 hours, so it might be well worth you doing that?

And the milk's in!

Yay! If you're really engorged and Violet is having trouble latching then hand express a bit off. Hope you have a good bra and plenty of tissues for those weepy moments

Yay! Do you look like Pammy A?

Do you lot ever get a but depressed about diabetes? Like you can never truly relax or be off guard? It really gets me down sometimes. Days are the worst as I feel so hectic with my DS and low blood sugars are just another thing to worry about and stop me totally letting go when at soft play or whatever. I suffer from anxiety and i'm sure it's related to the diabetes.

• bit

I have something called CMT it totally over shadows the diabetes tbh!

Wow now that's a condition I'd never even heard of! Just had to Google it. Are you badly affected Spotty?

Well I can walk but I can't run really

Oh hope you're not in too much pain Spotty. It's funny as I've been so stressed this last few weeks about the know under my arm that diabetes took a back seat then for a bit...perhaps I need this baby to come along so I don't have time to worry about it anymore!

spotty id never heard of it either and hope yours isnt too severe well done u for coping with 2 conditions and a baby!

puds yes i do have days i feel really sorry for myself, i know there are people much worse off than i am but cant help it at times i just wish i could jump in the car without testing, go to sleep without worrying about what my bg is or even just eat whatever whenever.

I know there are SO many worse off. And I don't mean to sound moany - I just find that constant 'on watch' feeling so tiring. I just want to forget about it and enjoy my life! I also have real fears about taking too much insulin and serious hypos. I have talked to counsellors about it as well as obviously friends and famil but they all just say 'well nothing's happened so far has it?'. No because i have to be so bastard careful! If i was more laid back then it could for sure as im so sensitive to insulin. And the fact nothing has happened doesn't mean today isn't the day when it could. I literally feel I take my life in my hands every day. Have I let this get out of proportion? Sorry to sound so depressing but I know that you lot will kind of understand where I'm coming from where non diabetics can't.

puds have you ever looked at getting a pump? Anxiety and fear of hypos is one of the NICE criteria for getting one, at least it was last time I looked! Just wondered whether you'd consider something like that if it would help you fine tune things so that you're more confident about things? It's hard work to start with, but once you have your basal levels sorted you can eat/not eat as the fancy takes you and it will (should) have no effect on your blood sugars due to the infinitely adjustable basal.

I used to get really frustrated because despite everything when I was on MDI my control was shocking - A1c of 9% ish for years. Having a pump is the only way I could ever have considered starting a family, and I'm so thankful to have one - I've had it for nearly 9 years now, they'll have to fight me for it if they ever want it back :o As a result of the pump I'm actually much less stressed now than I used to be, which leads to better sugars anyway because I'm not so stressed - it's a virtuous circle.

puds i push it to the back of my mind as much as i can but i worry that im losing my hypo signs i was 1.8 today and managed to walk in to kitchen to eat pre pregnancy i could barely function below 3.8 which makes me worry il die in my sleep! Im equally scared to be running high incase i go blind or lose a limb or damage my liver/kidneys etc etc i feel i cant win. Does the cgm have any sort of alarm for when you go below/above a certain level??

rue do u find the pump interferes with anything? Like how u sleep, what u wear etc?

Remember, we're not diabetic, we have diabetes - I heard that once as a teenager and it stuck. Basically, don't let it define you or take over your life.

Yep, gorgeous new boobs. Must be an E cup now (C pre-pregnancy)

I'm ok it is what it is

I would love a pump but definitely don't meet the criteria!

Ok, I know my milk's only been in for 72 hours, but I've noticed that I'm averaging 2 MASSIVE hypos in each 24-hour period. I mean below 2mmol.
(At 11am yesterday I was 1.4)
I'm just not catching them despite testing more than I was during my pregnancy.
It means that twice a day poor DP essentially has 2 "babies" to deal with for 1-hour-long periods.

Any advice?

Diec how much have you reduced your levemir by and what ratios are you working on for your novorapid?

Oh and what was it before

Diec - I'd try and let your diabetes take a back seat for now and run yourself higher. Have you gone back to 1u per 10g? I'd start with that.

Thanks for all your advice on my diabetes doldrums!! My nurse DSN is a specialist in pumps and so I'm going to enquire. Given the nature of my anxiety I've always avoided one thinking it would make me worry more but thanks to the advice I'm gonna do some researchin' x