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?

Oh dear! Can't imagine what about?

Thanks for the info about expressing that's really useful. I'm in two minds as I'm quite experienced at breastfeeding (3 babies, 6.5 years breastfeeding in total!) but it sounds like a good security blanket if needed.

Just had a growth scan which was bang on 28 weeks which I was very relieved about. Antenatal clinic yesterday was brief and I have now got 3 weeks off!

You must be at the business end now MrsN/Ripley are the bags packed?

Hi tea - yes, it was definitely a security blanket and is not really in case of having issues with breast feeding. More to do with what happens if the baby is hypoing and you need some extra, or even if he / she might have to go to NICU or whatever - it just means it is on hand. I still had DS latched on and feeding a lot (which is of course important to ensure your supply is kick started) but it was good to be able to top him up, especially as it seemed to take forever for my milk to come and I was being pressurised to give him formula as he was losing weight.

I'm with you though - after 2 years of BFing DS, I do feel much more relaxed this time around!

I'm 33+2, so not packed bag yet, although I have bought all the bits and bobs like new PJs for hospital, maternity pads, Lanisoh, and know where all the newborn clothes are. Will pack I think on my first day off on maternity leave which will be in just over two weeks!

mrsN what is your EDD - I thought it was before mine but I'm 33+3 today, EDD is 28.03. Or am I counting it funny? I've not really kept that close an eye on the days with this one, occasionally forgotten which week I'm on.

No bag or anything sorted yet. Like to live on the edge...

tea - as you've gone through 3 births already... have you ever had a problem with a midwife during labour? E.g. had one that just was very nice?
Still pondering about a doula or IM. But think will just hope that it's going to be easier and faster this time round, even with induction. And I'm a bit more clued up on the process.

EDD is 27 March, so I thought that made me 33+2 (I think my weeks fall on a Monday?). I could also be wrong - also not as on top of it this time round.

I have heard lots of people rave about having a Doula...

I've never really had a problem with a midwife whilst in labour, the advantages of being high risk is that you seem to get a bit more attention. I hear that things in London are more pressured staff-wise and for that reason it might be good to have someone looking after you a bit more! It probably depends on your DH too, mine wouldn't have liked a doula or anything like that, but is also quite a calm presence anyway and I've found him helpful when I've been in labour. I don't know how it all works practically though!

Urrghhhh just had to have a little rant. Everyone at the ante-natal clinic is wonderful but they are always running obscenely late. If I go I can expect to spend at least 2-4 hours there and what happens every time is that by the end or by the time I'm on my way home my blood sugar is really low or actively hypo (because I hate eating at the hospital although obviously I do if I have to) and I then a) have to correct it and b) by the time I get home I'm starving and just cannot wait for the whole bolus-wait 30 mins-then eat rigamarole and I end up stuffing my face and then spend the rest of the day with really high blood sugars which is the flipping opposite of what you'd hope to get out of the joint diabetic anti-natal clinic.

Sorry - rant over. It's just I was at the hospital for over four hours today (starting with a growth scan followed by waiting around at the ante-natal clinic) and was so frustrated I actually shed some tears (but am blaming that on pregnancy hormones).

Despite all that when they finally got round to checking my blood pressure (after I'd been waiting around 2 hours) it was normal so at least the aspirin is working....

Ha ha - yes, it's awful, isn't it?! I've found it at lot better this time, as they've allowed me to book appointments 4 weeks in advance, so that I'm always able to get in there with appointments at the very start of clinic. Even so, they are often running late and typically I'm there for 2 hours for 2 x 10 minute appointments. Very frustrating. I totally feel your pain!

Same here! I also try to get the first appointments of the clinic to minimise any delays.

But I also find the other patients frustrating. Why are they bringing their whole family for every appointment? By all means being one person for support but why do you need your partner, your mum and another random person there too? This week there were very pregnant women standing in the waiting room whilst non pregnant people sat which I thought was terrible! Also if you bring your children bring something to entertain them with! Rant over.

Oh don't get me started on the waiting room!! Honestly I don't really know why people bring anyone with them at all unless it's for an important scan or whatever.

Seriously I will be glad to see the back of that place and never return again!!

Mind you, the actual HCPs I see are generally lovely and helpful. Thinking of handing in some chocs assuming safe arrival of DD. Is that completely inappropriate for a diabetes clinic??

Waiting times, ooh yes. Sometimes can remain fairly zen about it, sometimes... not. Radio, crosswords, chocolate covered pretzels and pink lemonade are my weapons of choice (dangerous having an M&S at the hospital).

MrsN chocolate handout is absolutely suitable! Planning on doing the same.

Still on the doula/IM: my husband is ok having one as he'll there for moral support, pump/bg control and because he wants to be there - whereas on birthing positions and experience on labour (are things going normally...) he is not so clued up on. So the doula would not be replacing him in any way. Or that's the idea at least.

Glad you've only had good experiences with midwives during labour tea. As said, we ended up seeing quite a few last time and just one was unhelpful and unsupportive (read: horrible and shit). All the others were fantastic and did everything a doula/IM would do I think (except changing with shifts).
Just don't know. Anyway, a pretty small problem. Probably too late now to get one in any case!

I had an appointment just to see the diabetes part of the team in Wednesday, at 9.30, and was nearly 2 hours late...it's mad!

Hi ladies, sorry for hyjacking your thread. I'm not T1 diabetic, but have GD. I'm on insulin and metformin. My numbers are great after food, and I have no problem following the dietry advic. However my bg reading first thing is too high. I have had insulin increases from 2 to 5 units and it's making no difference in fact after each increase it seems to rise before coming back down again- but never low enough. Is this increase normal? And do you have any advice for lowering my reading first thing please? I figured you ladies would probably know way more than I can read on the net. (Which has some interesting advice depending on where you look )

Hi drink. it's hard to say anything much useful (other than check your diet & increase insulin or metformin...) without better detail on your situation - tho even then most of us here are not particulary knowledgeable on metformin.
There's a reasonably active forum on GD at diabetes.co.uk, am sure if you browse the threads you'll find some useful suggestions. www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/gestational-diabetes.21/
Good luck!

drink it's difficul to say without knowing what it's like throughout the night? Have you tried setting alarms and taking it during the night for a few days! That info would help your team to work out what to do to help.

drink the doses are very individual so they'll start off teeny and for some that will be enough. Some need 2 units at night, some need 30 or 40 or more! Record everything and liase with your team. Do you have an appointment soon? Good luck anyway.

Hi Drink - it's very difficult to help as others say insulin is so individual. Also - believe it or not a GD is a very different illness to T1 as it is caused by your body's resistance to insulin whereas for us we don't have any insulin at all. So in other words your reaction could be very different to someone else's and also you have the metformin in the mix (which is generally a type 2/ GD drug).

Good luck!! Am sure there are others on the pregnancy threads in the same boat.

Oh, one last thing. If the dietary advice you have received encourages you to eat loads of starchy carbs I'd rethink. Carbs = glucose = sugar so not your friend.

Thanks for the advice.
The ladies I know with gd aren't taking insulin hence asking here.
I am in contact with my diabetes midwife a couple of times a week. I think it'll just be a case of increasing the dosage until it works.

I'm following a low GI/low sugar diet. I'm really limiting carbs. Readings usually 6. something after meals.
I'll head over to the diabetes UK site.

So tired of being constantly ill, basically had a cough or cold one after another since October. And yesterday had the noro virus or similar, couldn't keep anything down. Good for bg readings, highest after a day of struggling to get above 3 was 5.2. Feeling better but really wiped out today.

Usually hardly ever sick. Guess it's the pregnancy immune system and child at nursery - she's had maybe 3 heathy weeks since summer 😐...

Levels calming down in general it feels, 34 weeks so kinda as expected.

Looking forward to a London meet-up in a few weeks. I'm easy on the time and place - Euston would be no problem.

That sounds really rough Ripley. Hope you're feeling better today.

I'm having an up and down week but mainly because none of my ratios can account for being on my feet all day sightseeing AND restaurant food which is a complete nonsense. Even when they publish the carb values on their websites I feel like I could add 50% more insulin to cover them. And when they don't, in an independent establishment wtf are they putting in the food? Fun and games!

I measured 37 weeks today.

Scan MrsN or abdo measurements?

Tape measure on abdo. But the baby was also skimming the top of the 97th percentile on the latest scan 2 weeks ago. 36 week scan week after next!

Ah ok. Your HBA1C has been good hasn't it? Maybe you just make lovely big babies. Not long to go now!

Yes it's been good. Although of course i am now doubting everything. Am so glad this is going to be my last DC! Really don't want to have to do this again!!

Generally am uncomfortable and really struggling with my commute to work. Next week is my last week and I can't bloody wait!!

MrsN On my 32-week appointment I spoke with the obstetrician about all sorts, and she at one point said that they have T1 women with fantastic hba1c who just have slightly larger babies than otherwise would be expected. And on all the T1 forums & fb groups it's the same story. One of those things. Also, the fundal height is not exact science... all stuff I'm sure you know. What did your DS weight?
Thumbs up for the last week of commuting/work, very impressed you've lasted this long!

It feels ages between the 32 and 36 week scans. I'm getting so anxious with movement, ended up going to the ADU yesterday and was reassured after 20mins on the heart rate strap thing but obviously already back to stressing about it all today 😑.

Tea Restaurants, exercise and pregnancy = difficult! Currently it takes me such a long time to bring numbers down I tend to just whack up a ridiculous dose and then some for everything. Tho in the last week I've hardly bolused at all, only now getting back to eating properly.

Less than a month to go... Nct refresher course next week and have begun seeing the chiropractor. May even start thinking about those hospital bags soon!