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diabetes in pregnancy - still birth

K

kltaylor86

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Huddersfield
Hi,

I have been type 1 diabetic for 10 years. I became pregnant Dec 2010. My blood glucose levels were ok, but not perfect at the begining of the preganacy, however i quickly turned them around and got my Hba1c to 7 within the first three months. I kept my levels at this through out, however my blood pressure was really high throughout pregnancy. i am a little overweight, but not massively. I attended regular check ups at the hospital and had a lot of scans and the baby was doing really well until i went for a check up at 33 weeks. The baby had not moved that morning and i was worried, and when they put me on a monitor they found the baby had a good heart beat, but was, as i knew, not moving. I was rushed in an ambulance to another hospital and when i arrived there, about 10 minutes later, the baby's heart had stopped beating and they told me there was nothing they could do, my baby was dead. i had to deliver the baby two days later, still born. This was four weeks ago and i am still so angry and confused. I thought i had done everything right and when my little boy arrived he looked perfect so i want to know what went wrong. I can't get any answers from the hospital, they just say it can happen in a diabetic pregnancy, but i need answers. Has anyone else been through this or know anything at all that could help me? Eventually i will want to try again for another baby, but first i need to know this won't happen again. I'd really appreciate anything anyone can tell me.
Kerry
 
Im sorry I don't know anything about still berth and it's connection to Type 1 Diabetes ,I really hope your Diabetic team rally round and give you some answers as I can understand you must be feeling so angry,sad and confused right now.

You are not to blame, I just want to say I really feel for you Doll ,it must have been terrible for you to go through this, I'm so sorry. I do know one Type 1 Lady who had two still berths but went on to have a beautiful son.
My Mum lost two babies ,she is not Diabetic and went on to have three, please do not give up hope and I really hope you have a good support network, please use your Diabetic team and GP to get the help you deserve.
Xx
 
Hi Kerry,
I am so so sorry to hear about your loss.
I personally have never lost a child but my friend recently has and her story is very similar she was 3 days away from her due date when she too stopped feeling any movement. She isn't a diabetic and your case might not necessarily be due to Diabetes either.
im sure the post mortem will reveal more and when you do go on to have other children you will be monitored more closely.
Don't give up trying and make sure you fight to get the best care when you do get pregnant again.
I hope you find some peace eventually and I wish you all the luck in the world.
Lesli xx
 
Hi Kerry,

I can definitely relate to your situation. I am almost 32 years old and I have had type 1 diabetes for 10 years. I didnt get my diabetes under control until i became pregnant with my daughter Aleah. At 5 weeks pregnant my was a1c was close to 9. I immediately began to take better care of myself and by the time i was 5 months pregnant my a1c was 4.9. It remained this low throughout my pregnancy. I went to all my regular checkups which included fetal non stress tests twice a week. My blood pressure was great, I had a fetal echocardiogram and her heart was perfect. At 36 weeks I went for another non stress test and ultrasound and she was looking right at the screen. I could see her chubby cheeks and the nurse kept saying how cute she was. My husband and I were so excited! We have an 11 year old son and we couldnt wait to give him a sibling after 2 first trimester miscarriages 7 years prior... I hadnt been able to conceive in 7 years so we all couldnt wait for her to get here! Two days later I hadnt felt her move all day... I wasnt too worried because she was more of a night baby and would kick frequently during the late hours. I called the doctor and was told to go to the hospital for a non stress test. When we arrived she didnt have a heartbeat... I was devastated. I was sure when they told me they had made some sort of a mistake and she would be fine once she got here. Aleah was born an angel the next day on September 16 2011. I thought I had done everything right... and I cant understand why this happened. She had an autopsy and the results were inconclusive, they dont know why she died. Doctors say they found some small clots in her umbilical cord which could have contributed to her death. I cant wrap my head around the fact that shes gone. Im also afraid to try again... im hoping i can get pregnant because of my infertility issues, but also scared that this could happen again... Nothing can replace my baby girl and my heart aches for her everyday... Best of luck to you in the future.. just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in this fight against diabetes and its challenges
 
In tears reading about your little angels...my heart really does go out to you.

I was similar, HbA1C of around 7.5 at conception, but then went down to 5. 5 ish for the rest of pregnancy. My BP was high, and I wee'd protein all the way through. I am happy to say that my little girl was born at 35 weeks, very small, but alve. It was not until later that they tiold me that I had pre eclamsia...they had thought it was kidney failure..but my kidneys recoved after she was born. I often look at my now 5 year old daughter, and think, you know what, maybe that pre eclampsia, that meant the she was rudely born by emergency c section (to save me, not her) helped her too.

I am so sorry. I truly, truly believe that it is down to luck. Sure, if you had not done all you could, then perhaps your diabetes could be blamed, but as it was Kerry, you did everything you could, and were unlucky. This doesn't help I know, but I hope that you can grieve, without guilt, as you have nothing to blame yourself for. I tooo have a friend who lost a baby at 36 weeks. She is not diabetic, but it was found that there was something wrong with her placenta..she had a few early m/cs as well. The silver lining is that she now has 4 children. Sje received a lot of help through the charity, which gave her emotional, and practical help.

Since having my duaghter, I too have had another baby. he is well, and I can honestly say, my pregnancy with him was completely different. There is hope, I promise you, but for now you need to let yourself grieve, get your body back to fighting fit, and, if and when you feel ready, try again.

You are in my prayers

x
 
Hi Kerry,

My heart goes out to you, you did everything that you could and must not blame yourself. When the post mortem results are through you will get a better insight to what has gone wrong. I have lost 2 babies due to premature birth and other complications so I recognise the feelings of despair that you are feeling.
You will try again when the time is right.

Love to you and yours

Bernie
 
Thank you all for your info, advise and support. At the moment I am still trying to process it all and am grieving for my beautiful little boy. Your words all give me hope for the future and that is what I desperatly need right now. Thank you so much.
 
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