Type 1 diabetic and pregnant

[Mudonstairs]

Any type 1 diabetics out there that are pregnant? Not gestational diabetes as that’s a different ball game.

I am 5 weeks 3 days pregnant and waiting to hear back from a midwife. I reported my pregnancy two weeks ago. I don’t remember it taking this long in my last pregnancy, I was contacted for my booking appointment really quickly and was sent for an early scan at 6 weeks, and that was during the pandemic! Things seem to be slower this time and it’s making me anxious 😬

Oh no, it must be hard to have your boy get a diagnosis of type 1! Although it sounds like he’s in the absolute right hands to have a brilliant life with it! Keeping fingers crossed for baby girl though!

my diabetes was triggered by the pregnancy yes. No family history of diabetes at all and no other risk factors. So I was eventually sent for a glucose test at 35 weeks after weeks of symptoms and a very big baby! Diagnosed with gestational, but it turned out to be type 1. Not sure how uncommon it is to be honest, I know quite a few people that were diagnosed in adulthood, but that might just be because I’m biased to remember them!

we told me little one about the baby at 12 weeks and he was a little confused at first but is very excited now. He talks to the baby every day and is talking about helping me with bottles and nappies. He’s also convinced it’s a girl so we will see haha.

My boy having T1 breaks my heart every single day. Every time I change his Omnipod or Dexcom he cries and my heart breaks into a thousand pieces 💔 I just didn’t want this for him. I’m staying awake right now as his sugar is at 21.2 and I’m constantly checking it and topping him up with corrections if it’s suggesting it. I won’t sleep until it’s started to come back down. I’ve recently started having really vivid nightmares that I’m going to lose him 😢 I have read that vivid dreams/nightmares are common in pregnancy. Never had nightmares in my last pregnancy, it was just vivid dreams but I was in a much happier place back then and no job/financial situation giving me untold stress. I was newly wed and just back from honeymoon. Life was good haha. I feel sad that this pregnancy isn’t as joyful for me and suspect I am suffering with depression and anxiety. Just need to get through this pregnancy as I don’t want any meds while I’m pregnant.

I know of only one person who got type one as an adult and hers was triggered in pregnancy. I met her at a pregnancy yoga class last time I was pregnant and she said like you that she was diagnosed with GD but baby was born and then she was diagnosed with type one. I’m guessing they don’t test you for the type 1 antibodies if you are pregnant and just assume it’s GD?

How lovely that your boy is already planning on being a helpful big brother. That’s so sweet! I do think it might be easier at his age because you can explain things to him and he will understand. I’m not sure my 3 year old is going to understand why mummy is always sitting with a baby at her breast. I would have waited a bit longer to have a second but I’m the wrong side of thirty and what with being type 1 and high risk I thought the earlier the better with all the health/age related risks!

Im sorry to hear you are struggling so much. It must be so heartbreaking helping your boy when you can’t quite explain yet that the Omnipod and Dexcom are helping him.

have you thought about referring yourself for some counselling at all? It might help having a space to talk about all the feelings and stresses you’re going through. Where I am pregnant women are prioritised and the wait doesn’t tend to be too long.

im also the wrong side of 30! It was going to be now or never in terms of having a second child. After my diagnosis I really didn’t think it was ever going to happen but my consultant was so positive that we’ve given it a go and I’m so pleased! I just can’t wait to have baby here and have our family complete :-)

I had a mental health practitioner call me from my gp and he didn’t mention I could have any counselling. He only said he could sign me up for online CBT but I haven’t bothered with it because the day after that chat with him I had a call from a woman who said she could give me a call regularly and monitor my progress on the CBT course. Well I had no idea it was a course that I’d need to complete. I don’t need coursework. I just thought it was going to be a nice little one time online thing to give me tips and techniques! Last thing I need is someone constantly checking if I’m progressing on some course!

I spoke to my midwife about my mental health and she just said I should contact my GP which I thought was unhelpful but perhaps that is the way it works 🤷🏻‍♀️ I told her I already spoke to GP and mental health nurse so what more could I contact them and say and she said they could put you on Sertraline but I don’t want to start anything like that while pregnant so seems like my only choice is to try and cope best I can. I guess talking about it isn’t going to make me feel better really. Aside from winning the lottery so I can tell my employer to stick their job, I know medication is my only hope of feeling better but like I said trying to avoid that unless I’m absolutely in need of it.

Ahh it’s the same for me. It was now or never to have a second baby. I’m glad your diagnosis didn’t scare you away from completing your family. Diabetes and pregnancy is so bloody hard, but I’d do it all again in heartbeat to have my son. It’s totally worth it ❤️ is this definitely your last baby do you think?

Hi @Mudonstairsjust wanted to check in and see how you’re getting on. I realised I never replied to your last message, so sorry about that!

I hope you are feeling better and that your mental health has improved. A pregnancy is stressful enough without all this work stress on top!

Hi @Theskylight thanks for checking in. It’s been a crazy few months. I had many job interviews and finally got a job offer at a school. It all went a bit downhill after I told them about my pregnancy. They tried to force me to sign my employment contract to start within 2 weeks notice and I would have already started my mat leave by that date. I explained to them that I’d be on mat leave and even if I wasn’t I would still need to give my current employer one months notice, I asked for an explanation on why they were adamant on that date. They ignored my questions and they just said the date couldn’t be changed. I think they were just trying to make it difficult for me tbh so that I refuse the job offer as they didn’t want to have to deal with my pregnancy. I decided I don’t need to go from one employer stressing me to another doing similar and for no pay! So I’ve decided to stick with current employer as at least I’ll get enhanced mat pay this way and I checked with HR, I don’t need to pay any of it back if I don’t return to my job. So I’ll look for a new job in the new year.

Mentally I’m feeling so much better. I’ve now made it to mat leave and I’m feeling more positive despite the job offer going wrong. It’s given me confidence that I will be ok next year and I will find a job. My boy is now 3 and he started nursery today. It went so well but had a mega hypo today and was 2.5 downwards arrow before lunchtime. The nursery called me and handled it so well though. He has been having so many hypos lately, so I’ve emailed his nurse to see what we tweak. Fingers crossed tomorrow isn’t a repeat!

This pregnancy has been stressful. My baby girl is measuring off the growth charts at 100th centile so I have c section booked for Tuesday! I’ll be 37 weeks exactly. I’m so ready to meet her. I am all bump and absolutely huge!

How are you doing? How is the baby and your pregnancy going? Is your boy excited about the baby?

im sorry to hear about the job, but really good to hear that mentally you’re doing better. It sounds like you’ve got a good plan going forward!

also wow, Tuesday! So exciting!! I hope all goes well!

I’m doing alright. Currently nearly 34 weeks and I’m getting so tired! My c section is booked for 38 weeks though, so not long now either! Baby is doing well, growing nicely and all looks well so far.

ive been having some weird insulin sensitivity mainly in the afternoons which has worried me, but I’ve had extra scans and they’ve been fine. My diabetes consultant can’t necessarily explain it but she’s not concerned so I’m holding onto that. My little boy can’t wait until baby is here, it’s so cute!