Excited but terrified!

[VP83]

So am precisely 8 weeks pregnant today, and am off for my first antenatal appointment and scan this week.....but whilst very excited am feeling increasingly nervous about everything. Have been T1 for 22 years, on MDI for the last year, and for ages I only heard scary stories about pregnant diabetics and things going wrong. I have read lots of positive messages on here, and am really pleased that my latest HBA1C was 41 and so "good" in the words of my DN, but still just nervous about the whole experience....

Can anyone explain what will happen in my first antenatal appointment?

Thank you v much for helping. x

 

[sekv]

Congratulations!
At my first antenatal appointment, I had three appointments. I first met the midwife and she took down details, requested bloods and checked blood pressure. I then met with my consultant who's responsibility is for the health of baby and she ensured that I was taking all the extra medication (I was put onto aspirin but some ladies don't seem to start this until 12 weeks.). She also tried an ultrasound but they had to do an internal due to it being too early at 9 weeks (I had to provide a sample when I got there so had an empty bladder! And also have a tilted womb). Internal was fine though, it's very discrete.
Then I met with another consultant who is responsible for the diabetes side specialising with babies too. We went over blood glucose control and set targets.
Hope that all helps! Good luck

 

[Mrsass]

Hi, congratulations

I'm currently 34w with my first baby and it's been exciting & terrifying the whole way through just because I love to worry about anything & everything so I know how you are feeling!

I had the same a1c as you when I found out I was expecting, since then it's been 39 & last one was 38 a few weeks ago, it's hard but theres a fair few hypo's while pregnant, you are better to be lower than higher obviously, you will be given tight bg ranges, mine are 3.6-5.8 and less than 7.8 2 hours after eating but I know some have lower ranges than that, you will still get highs, just correct and move on don't dwell on them, we can't be perfect and stick in the range we are given 100% of the time so as long as it's a short lived high you will be fine

I think my first scan was around 7 weeks and they were able to do an ultrasound one rather than an internal, if you do need one though it's really not as bad as it sounds as I've had one before.

I saw a midwife, my DSN, a diabetes consultant and a OBGYN, I was prescribed vitamins and you will get a high dose of folic acid if you aren't already taking it. I started aspirin at 12w

Good luck xx


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[1Sarah1]

Hi @VP83 congeatulations. 41 is great. You normally need to aim for 5.5 before meals and 7.5 an hour after. I was pumping through both pregnancies which was the best thing for me-I've been diabetic 35yrs and best way for me to get hba1c down.
I had a specialist team-dsn, diabetic consultant, dietitian then would see the midwife (specific diabetes one but I live in a large city) and OB consultant. Both times was seen every couple of weeks. I had scans at 7w both times (2yr old daughter also t1 and 8m twins). They would review my sugars, be able to see the dietitian if necessary. I could always ring my dsn or midwife in between. I was so huge with my twins they couldn't miss me! Congratulations it's hard work but worth it x

 

[VP83]

Thank you both so much for replying. We had been trying, and so I have been taking 5mg folic acid since December, and took pregnancy vitamins plus fish oils since I realised I was pregnant. Mrsass can I ask why you have been taking aspirin since 12 weeks?

It just seems overwhelming about how much info there is about pregnancy out there, but some of it contradicts what we can do. Love the idea of 'eat ginger biscuits if you feel nauseous'.....would destroy my blood sugars in 15 minutes!

Already am seeing some weird things going in with my BG. Seem to rise much more quickly than normal at about 5am, and so am setting my alarm to give myself 2u of short acting at 5am to head it off, which seems to work at the moment. Am much more susceptible to rising BG at breakfast than at lunch or supper, need much more insulin per g of carbs.

When should my insulin requirements start increasing? As I think it is a bit premature if it starts already.

 

[Mrsass]

I started the aspirin due to it helping to prevent pre eclampsia etc, some get started on it as soon as you have your first appt so don't be surprised or worried if they do that when you go this week.

As @1Sarah1 mentioned, having a pump in pregnancy has also been an absolute god send, I know they aren't for everyone but if you start to struggle with your bg's do consider getting one, I have a million basal rates that have constantly had to be adjusted due to hormones etc and it has made it far easier having my pump to do that.

I went through ginger biscuits by the pile to try help my nausea with barely any effect on bg cos i was almost constantly low until about 20 weeks - ps - ginger biscuits don't work if you do get sick, nothing does, believe me I tried everything as I ended up having hypermesis and my sickness has been horrendous through most of my pregnancy, it's starting to calm down now typically as I don't has long left lol
Lucozade will become your absolute best friend

If doing them 2 extra units works for you in the early hours go with it, you will probably find it changes soon I was testing about 3 times a night at your stage it's hard to keep up with all the changes but totally worth it


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