T1 diabetes - bumps, births, babies & beyond!

[RueDeWakening]

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:o

Hi ginger,

I was induced at 38 plus 2, the pessary worked first time and within 2 hours I was 3cm dilated, I had my waters broken and was constantly monitored. Only downside to this is that you are hooked up to machines etc so not ideal for moving about but my hospital didn't give me a choice, I'm in Scotland so not sure if its different rules up here. I had gas and air which helped with my contractions but my MW advised I took an epidural due to the strength of my contractions and the fact that my labour was progressing slowly. I would honestly say the epidural was fine, you still feel the contractions but they are much more bearable. Sadly for me, I didn't dilate past 5cm and my LO wasn't coping v well with my contractions so I ended up with an emergency c section but I promise it was fine. My LO was born safe and healthy and that's all that you care about! I was discharged after 2 days. I think I could have got out sooner but my LO had low BS so had to be monitored. Post c section, again it was fine and I was up walking very quickly. It was a little sore but really not that bad. In all honesty, if I was to get pregnant again I would ask for an elective section as my own opinion is that the recovery, baby bonding etc is not affected but I understand others may have a different view. I guess I just wanted to reassure you that my induction despite ending in a section was still a good experience. Best of luck! X

Thanks newbie, Bona and hopingfor. I am trying to be realistic about everything but its the unknown isn't it? Maybe he'll decide to put an appearance in before then anyway. Operation sex, curry and raspberry leaf tea starts next week! :D

X

Oh, how do you bank colostrum by the way? Do you do it before baby is born? Does everyone produce it even if their milk doesn't come in? I'm not leaking anything yet that I'm aware of.

Ginger some people can't get anything out before the birth. Look on the LLL website. You need sterile syringes and to hand express. You will only have colostrum until your milk comes in probably day 4/5 (it's usually later in diabetics I think).

Speak to your midwife I was told I couldn't start until 36 weeks but ds was born before then!

Right, another question for the midwife! Thanks! X

Ginger, don't expect mw to know much about this (sorry). When I appeared at hosp with all my frozen colostrum the mws were all like That is despite the NICE guidelines on diabetic pregnancies recommending this.

I paid a private lactation consultant to come to the house and show me what to do. I started at 36 weeks (when I started mat leave). You just need sterile 5 ml syringes. If you get a good mw she can give you some otherwise you can buy them in boots etc.

You then basically hand express drops at a time. The first few days I was getting 1 ml per sitting or something pathetic but as your technique improves you'll get more. I never leaked but you can get colostrum 36 weeks or earlier in some cases (they advise against starting earlier as nipple stimulation can trigger labour).

You also need breast milk freezer bags so you can pop your full syringes in there. DH then brought them to hosp in batches inside a cool bag with ice packs. The hosp will also have a fridge.

This all just means that you are able to avoid formula top ups (if that is important to you while you wait for milk to arrive).

DS still lost quite a bit of weight while I waited for my milk and became jaundiced but didn't need blue lights and had just two formula top ups before starting to regain weight. He has been exclusively breast fed since then and is a right wee porker!

Thanks Bona. I had no idea you could do this. I had a bread
St feeding specialist session as part of NCT. I will email her to see if she can help or knows someone who can

Breastfeeding specialist! Doh!

Good plan! I think she should be able to help or refer you on. Also check out LLL in your area as suggested below. Good luck - any questions let me know.

Oh my hospital has a specialist mw I never saw a community one

Nightmare night went to bed at 4 never woke up till now so im 16.6 f**k haven't been that high in a while cant believe that missing out on a few units in early hours has meant im this high!

Just tested half an hour after correcting (couldn't settle until I knew it was on way down) and it had risen only by 0.2 but still wtaf I dont however have ketones so it cant have been high long right??

Spotty - I didn't see a community one either, this was at the diabetic pregnancy clinic. Honestly there were so many things I wish I'd commented on but in actual fact was just so pleased to be heading home with DS after all the appointments and hosp time!

Hoping - that is a huge difference. Dawn phenomenon then I reckon.

Hoping I think you're an ideal pump candidate.

My mw in clinic was so lovely. I often see her if I'm at the hospital for appointments in peads and she always stops for a chat (remembers my name etc) I think I love her a bit

The mw's on the ward though are pretty clueless!

bona spotty im thinking its dp only other thing I guess is perhaps a hypo and liver dump my dsn seemed to think that a pump would be best for 'true' dp without going on a cgm how do they classify it as true? Also dp is not in the guidelines so id prob struggle for funding? Should I put up my levemir do u think? Will give it a anothet cpl nights right enough as I think its down to not taking insulin at 4-5am

spotty I wish I could still see the consultant I haf during pregnancy but no doubt it will be back to the po faced ones I used to see that have a bit of a god complex

Hell what am I doing wrong?! Normally id test at 10pm then feed ellie n go to bed but I retested tonight I was 4.1 at 10pm by 11pm 9.2 at which point I took 3u just before 12 im 12.4?!?! I had dinner at 7.30 so I dont think its that totally stumped

Just popping back on to say thanks for induction advice and questions to ask midwife. Spoke to her yesterday and feel much less stressed about it all.

Also MW was incredibly encouraging about hand expressing colostrum, gave me a pack which included syringes and instructions, gave me a little demo and said I'm welcome to use the birth centre freezer if I manage to express and freeze it. Phew!

Ginger that all sounds great I'm glad you're feeling more positive

Thanks Spotty.

Hopingfor it really does sound like a pump could be the way to go for you. I hope your clinic agree and can sort that out for you if its what you want. In the meantime i think I'd be tempted to put my night levemir up. And set an alarm to keep an eye in things in the night. x

ginger yes I think it may well be a better option than dripping a unit or 2 till midnight tgen having to get up at 4am to ensure im not too high in morning. Oooh cant be long now when do you go in? Another thread baby.

Has anyone heard from puds??

Hopingfor - after seeing my friend's pump in action I now really have my heart set on one. Though my clinic may have other ideas as I do t fit their criteria. Well maybe I will post birth, I can barely remember my pre-preg control!

I go in on Wednesday afternoon for my induction. But I've a sweep booked for Monday. I think if my cervix isn't looking "favourable"I may tell them to forget the sweep though. I hear it only really works if you're ready anyway.

I have the same concerns ginger dont think I will meet the criteria n couldnt afford it myself.

How exciting, not sure with my 1st preg with ds they gave me a sweep a cpl days before said they couldnt even reach my cervix it was that far back but was 2-3cm by the tues evening though no real pain so I didnt know till they went to put pessary in lol

I had a sweep at 36 weeks with dd and was contracting the next day when I went in for induction

I've been convincing myself that the mild cramping and low down pressure ive been feeling is my cervix dilating. But I've had no significant increase in cervical mucous and no show so I might be deluding myself!