Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy Support Thread

[MrsNuckyThompson]

Wow - with a catchy title like that, who could resist? I was part of a lovely supportive thread like this one during my last pregnancy which was nearly 4 years ago now. I'm currently around 6 weeks pregnant with my 2nd DC. DS is 3.4

Anyone want to join me?

Merry xmas! Lovely to hear it's been going ok for you Esker and that the steroids weren't too bad.
Our proper celebrations start tomorrow... think i'll put a temp basal rate of 150% throughout the day as I'm bound to overdo to food. Not going to stress about it too much tho. Or at all, really. Will eat what I want and try to test frequenly enough to stop super highs occurring...
Festive, relaxed spirits and miraculously level sugars to all!

Hello all! Have been at a friend's all afternoon grazing constantly on cheese, biscuits, cheese straws, charcuterie and grapes. Just bolused the hell out of it!

So very very tired and ready for a good relax over then next week!!

Esker - delighted that things have settled down for you. Sending all positive vibes for that wee tyke of yours to stay put!

Happy and healthy Christmas everyone. X

Hope everyone survived Christmas! I was a bit up and down numbers wise but nothing awful, I'm looking forward to being back to my normal food and control. Fetal cardiac scan tomorrow, it will be good to have that done and hopefully ok.

Big update... got readmitted early morning on Boxing Day and had my baby by c-section this morning at 4.37! He is 27 weeks today exactly. The little champ managed to make it to just over 1kg, which is great. He is doing well so far, was initially on ventilator but now has had the tube out and breathing with lighter support. There were some worries about jaundice, but he's responding well to phototherapy and has had a blood transfusion.
So so happy
Only downside is that I've been too woozy and nauseous to visit the NICU apart from brief visit this morning ... hoping to go there soon. DH is shuttling back and forth with regular updates.
Still pretty much in shock about what has happened but just thrilled that my lovely boy has arrived safely!

OMG Esker congratulations! Glad you're both doing well. Give us an update whenever you feel up to it.

Huh, that's an update and a half Esker! Many congratulations and best wishes. Sending you strength and very big hugs ❤️.

Hello you lovely lot. I had a BFP today, tested at 2days late nothing then today at 6 days late a BFP. I'm type one and my sugars have been a bit erratic. I have had a viral infection then a chest infection which is still there.also I have changed from levemier to Tresiba and I'm trying to find the right number needed to control my readings. The new insulin is knocking my day readings but today I have tested lots and tried to correct highs. I don't want to stress and panic. I can't believe it's really happening. I need to contact dsn but I'm not sure if they are in between Xmas. Anyway I hope you lovely ladies are doing well. I look forward to being part of this thread.

Holy moly Esker - I can't believe it!! Many many congratulations on the safe arrival of your son!! Sounds like he is doing really well and is a good old weight for his 27 weeks!!

Don't worry too much about the visiting today - main thing is to get your strength up and there will be plenty of time for visits and cuddling tomorrow. Get some sleep if you can and take any pain relief offered.

Sending many positive vibes to you and the little one! Let us know of his name when you get the chance!!

nutcase - welcome to the thread and congrats on your BFP!

Thinking of you still Esker.

Welcome nutcase how are you doing just now?

Checked my results online last night. A1C before Christmas was 33! Has the fetal echo yesterday was went fine, so cool to see such amazing detail.

Hope everyone else is well.

That's great Tea! Well done. Same as me!

I have my first growth scan on Tuesday at 28+0. Can't believe I'm at that stage already and be nice to have one every 4 weeks from now on!

But then I really really can't believe that Eskers bundle is already here. Blows my mind to think of it. All still going well?

Welcome Nutcase and congratulations on your BFP!

Great news on foetal echos and growth scans Tea and Nucky!

Nucky I can't quite believe he is here either! So grateful we made it to 27 weeks though. In the same ward as us there is a little boy born at 24 weeks! He is doing ok, but it just reminds me how lucky we were to have those extra few weeks to develop.

Update:
Our baby boy is called Francis, or Frank for short. My paternal grandfather was called Francis and my maternal grandmother is called Frances so it's a lovely family name for us

Francis is in a cosy little ward (called a 'nursery' which I think is quite nice) of four cots. There are always at least 2 nurses in there and sometimes more. We are allowed to be there 24/7 and we can call any time direct to the room to ask how he is doing.

He is stable and hasn't had major problems so far. Jaundice was pretty bad at first, but has now almost cleared up. He had some infection markers yesterday which meant the poor little thing had to have a spinal tap so they could do further tests. Fortunately the infection markers have reduced and antibiotics seem to be doing the trick. After initially being taken off ventilation, he had to have his breathing tube put back in as he wasn't getting enough, however I think they will try taking him off it again tomorrow.

I've been expressing colostrum which they dab on his lips and mouth, and actually deliver to him through a feeding tube. He has gained 30g!!!

I feel a bit wrecked... pretty sore from my section and now with very achy boobs! But all very worth it of course!

I have a little cry every time we leave the hospital as you can't help feeling that your baby should be leaving with you, but generally have been feeling ok.

Must go sleep now as I have to wake up to express milk in 2.5 hours!

Love to all and good blood sugars too! Xxx

Hi Esker - thanks so much for the update especially as you have so much else going on. We are all rooting for you and Frank - great name!!

Things will feel easier when your milk comes in. I had to wait 4.5 days with a full term baby after a section so I can imagine it could take a bit longer. Then the expressing will feel a bit more purposeful as with colostrum you get so little at a time!! 30g is amazing progress tho and it's all heading in the right direction.

Have you any idea yet how long the likely hospital stay for him is likely to be? Or is it all up in the air? Would imagine you're in for a fair few weeks but that must definitely take its toll when you're in and out all the time. Definitely make sure you're getting sleep and recovery time and eating well. Have you had a pizza yet?! The stronger you are the more resilient you'll be to deal with the challenges of a premie I guess. And you can hopefully stock up on some decent sleep.

Get the best possible double breast pump you can for when you get your milk in. You want those night time pumps to be fast and efficient so that you can get back to sleep! I had a hospital grade double recommended by my lactation consultant. Will try to get the name for you.

Good luck to you all!!!

Aww little Frank! Hope he's doing well Esker. I can't believe he's here! I've no experience on pumping for a newborn really though quite I'm experienced at actual breastfeeding, though I imagine it's a long the before he gets anywhere near a boob.

Hello, hope you all don't mind me wading in! Got a positive pregnancy test on Xmas day - so happy!
Unfortunately on 26th Dec for almost the full day my sugars were high and I mean the highest they've been in my whole 15years of diabetes - honestly was so horrible, never felt so ill in my life. Woke up at 13, still 13 2 hours later, at one point was up to 28! Had to go to hospital as even with 19units of correction doses I couldn't control things. The hospital and I still have no idea what caused this. Probably a pump malfunction. So distressing.
I'm so worried about what damage this has done to my little baby.
I seem to need much more insulin this week! Ive had 20% extra basal rate on my pump today and things have been much better controlled.
I guess I'm full of worry now as my sugars were so out of control that day.
I have my first maternity appt. on Wednesday.
Please - any reassurance or honest opinions (even if bad) would be greatly appreciated.
So worried.

Hi hope. Congrats on your BFP and welcome to the thread.

This is my second T1 pregnancy. I have a happy healthy 3 year old. I mention that only to assure you that despite ups and downs throughout my first pregnancy he is absolutely perfect and you are very very unlikely to have done any harm with one 'off day'. It happens to the best of us, no matter how well controlled!

Early days the biggest impact on sugars will be hormonal which you can do almost nothing about. Personally I find/ found that eating lower carb is the best way to keep things in check. But it is definitely not easy as in pregnancy you are hungry and definitely crave bread etc!!

Some important things: you should be referred by your GP for an urgent appointment with your hospital's specialist diabetes in pregnancy clinic. They will have one. That should be an urgent referral as your pregnancy is 'high risk'. You should then be offered an early scan at around 6 weeks.

I would highly recommend you read the NICE guidelines on diabetes in pregnancy (just google it). It sets out what you should expect in terms of appointments, supports, scans etc.

Have a read through the thread and you'll be able to see the various discussions on all of this stuff! 4 of us are at around the same gestation, around 27 weeks ( actually 3 now as we've had one very early arrival!) but there have been a few new joiners recently.

Thanks so much for your reassuring message - you;ve made me feel better already.

Will read full thread now. Thanks again x

Hello all. Thanks for the welcomes I am doing ok, no symptoms or sickness other than sore boobs my chest infection is much better, but I still got a cough. my sugars have been ok today. I have been testing lots and trying to keep them stable but not always within the nice targets. I'm also trying to eat low carb to prevent the rise after food and lots of insulin as I seem to need more already. We sold our house and moved in with my mum till our new house is ready so it's really hard trying to hide things from her and my sister and testing so much in secret
We are due to complete end of jan. I haven't got hold of dsn yet I will ring on the 3rd Jan. Hope your all doing ok. I was looking at paying for an early scan but will I have one early due to type one?

Hi nutcase. Yes, you should be offered an early scan anyway, so I would hold off. Realistically, you can't see viability (ie a heartbeat) until 6/7 weeks anyway.

Here is the NICE guidance for both of you on what you can expect (obvs you can ignore the GD sections): www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/1-Recommendations#antenatal-care-for-women-with-diabetes-2

Well Happy New Year sugary ones. I'm planning on a wild night at home with a glass of something fizzy and a meringue as a treat! Hope 2017 is a successful exciting year for us all for the right reasons.

Happy new year tea and the rest of you lovely ladies (and Frank!).

Just finishing my glass of champers and off to bed shortly. Not staying up! Enjoyed a magnum (i.e. Ice cream, not giant bottle of wine!) earlier.

Happy New Year everyone!!!
Hope everyone had a good start to 2017: the year you all get your babies!

I hope you don't mind if I continue on our T1 pregnancy thread, even though I'm not pregnant any more, and with some forays into T1 and breastfeeding etc? I feel my spiritual home is with my T1 buddies and I also want to continue hearing all about your pregnancies and eventually your birth stories!! I cant even face looking on the newborn/ breastfeeding chats as I just don't feel they are relevant to me as everyone else will have their babies at home and is in a completely different situation to me.

Now
for an update on little Francis. Not so little actually- as he is putting on weight Born at 1005g and today he was 1136g. He is mainly nourished through a drip but he takes 4ml of breastmilk now every 2 hours. He's quite chunky for a 27 week baby and other parents I meet on the ward are all very impressed with him topping a kilo. God knows how big he would have got it he made it to 38 weeks - I have no idea if him being on the big side is diabetes related or not.

Generally speaking, he is well, but like with most premature babies, his main issue is his lungs and ability to breathe independently. They have tried taking him off the ventilation tube twice, and both times had to put him back on as he was labouring too hard to breathe. This is all upsetting to go through, but the doctors have reassured us that it is typical and par for the course to have several attempts at this. I just feel for him as it's a big of an ordeal and very tiring for him to go through. Today his oxygen levels kept falling, which was stressing us out, but then the lovely nurse said that she was observing that he was doing better at regulating his oxygen when he was left alone, ie not being touched - prior to this my husband had been having his hands on him as we had been told that this is calming and reassuring for the babies. So then we just left him be and that seemed to help. The doctors have said that there are going to be lots of ups and downs and we need to be prepared for the fact that some days everything will go our way and things will feel great, and that there will also be days when he regresses or things don't go according to plan.

I think I'm making an ok recovery from the c section, although I don't have anything to compare to. Midwife says everything looks ok. I had a bit of a crash yesterday where I just couldn't cope and had to have a day off going to the hospital. I felt awful not going to see Francis, but my husband pointed out- and I agree- that I have been running on adrenaline since the birth, and maybe my body was just forcing me to take a rest. Anyway, I spent yesterday in bed and felt a lot better today and was able to go to the hospital again.

Diabetes wise I have definitely experienced the cliff drop in insulin requirements post birth. Have adjusted my basal down and am taking way less bolus for meals. Also having to eat snacks plus no insulin to maintain levels especially after expressing milk. Diabetes control has obviously taken a back seat compared to when I was pregnant, bug obviously I'm keen to maintain good control as I don't want to get ill and not be able to see him, and also I'm conscious of having a big scar and I know that the risk of infection could be higher if I'm running high sugars all the time. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying helping myself to lots of previously forbidden treats though Also toasted new year with some fizz.

Anyway, sorry this is such a long post! I got a bit carried away. Happy 2017 to all!

No definitely stay here Esker! We need to know you and Frank are doing ok. He sounds like a little champ and yes I assume the ups and downs are to be expected.

It's interesting to hear about the diabetes after delivery and the effect with pumping/breastfeeding. I'm sure some peaks and troughs are completely normal given that you're not pregnant anymore. Glad you've enjoyed some treat food and I'm sure the odd day off the hospital is good for you too.

How are you all doing? Lovely to read about your experience esker keep posting please when you can.

I Phoned the dsn and I have an appointment for next weds with them and a midwife. Been advised to check and keep a log of sugar one hour after meals and to try and keep control below 7.8 after an hour but I have been doing that anyway. Also been referred for my an eye check. Hope your all ok.

Good that you're in touch with them now!

Do you all have different ratios for different times of the day?