• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

help...... unplanned pregnancy

B

bumbleharvey

Member
Messages
22
Hi all

Could really do with some advice please. Im 34 and have been t1 for 27 years. My control has generally always sat in the 8 regions currently 7.8 and have discovered im 3 weeks pregnant. Im happy and i never imagined it would happen but extremely scared, frightened and anxious. I do not know any other diabetic who have had children.

would appreciate some advice please from any diabetic mums out there about their pregnancy experiences etc.

To top it off the morning I found out was pregnant i was due to have another round of laser on both eyes for retinopathy. My eye doc seems to be happy with me to go ahead with the pregnancy as the retinopathy is being treated and hopefully stopped in its tracks although he did say I might need a top up possibly in the last trimester.

i really want to keep this baby but i am so scared & really do not want to permantly damage my body.

any advice would greatly be appreciated

Cheers

Jo
 
Hi Jo,

I became diabetic after I had my son. I am sure there are lots of experienced T1s who have advice and positive outcomes to discuss with you.

From me Congratulations !

Lucy. :thumbup:
 
Can't give you any personal experience but a friend of mine, type 1 for about 20 years has just had her 2nd baby, all doing well.
 
Congratulations Jo. I used to be a Midwife before I was Ill-health retired due to my severe allergies including to latex!!
If I were you I'd contact the Midwife attached to your GP clinic ASAP. They don't usually
'book' women into the system until they are about 12 weeks - but with you having db she will probably do it straight away. you will be very carefully monitored through the pregnancy- most hospitals have a joint pregnancy/ diabetic clinic. This is done by a diabetic consultant with an Obstetrician with interest/ experience, there will usually be a Diabetic Specialist Midwife too & they are the person you'll have a lot of contact with -usually being able to ring them with any queries. Obviously you will be considered 'high risk' & would be encouraged to give birth in a large unit - rather than at home or in a birth centre/ local cottage hospital for example!! I would recommend that you still go to 'parenting classes' because although a lot won't apply to you (you will be very closely monitored whilst in labour also & it does affect your mobility etc) it does help you to meet other people who are due at the same time & you might come across when you are in hospital. Also, as most of your care (if not all) will be at the hospital you don't get the chance to meet the midwife who will come & see you at home when you've had the baby - so it's worth asking - if things are pretty stable could you have one or more appointments either at home or at the GPs- some places do offer this routinely. Although you are 'high risk' it should always be remembered that itshould be an emotionally satisfying experience as well as a safe one.
Hope some of this helps a little!! Sunny
 
Thank you so much for all the advice. i am going to my docs tomorrow. so your comments have helped with questions I need to ask him:-)

Thanks again

Jo :D
 
Hi!!!

Just wanted to say congratulations!!!!

I had my 1st child just over 4 years ago and when I got pregnant (unplanned) my HBa1c was mid to high 7%, 2nd child Dec 2010 (planned)... Both my children were born healthy (and were not heavy babies) and 11weeks pregnant with 3rd child (unplanned and hba1c of about 8%)... There are a few more risks the higher your hba1c is however you will be considered high risk and monitored closely. I'd suggest you see your doctor/midwife asap. In my case my doc reffered me to local midwife who then referred me to the specialist clinic at the hospital. I'm not sure how it is in other areas but I have appointments every 2 or 3 weeks, and diabetics in my area have more scans in 3rd Trimester (i LOVE this bit).

As I said previously both my previous kids were born healthy and had no issues due to my having T1, so try not to worry and enjoy the experience (OK apart from the sickness, swollen ankles etc :lol: )
 
Aww arent you all just really lovely people, congratulations on your pregnancy bumbleharvey, fingers, toes and everything else crossed that all goes well for you.
And congratulations to all the other Mums, you have done so well, you do a sterling job, looking after all the little ones and more, whilst still taking care of your diabetes.
All the best to you all x x
 
I can understand your worry but try and enjoy your pregnancy. I'm sure everything will be fine. Congrats and best wishes. X
 
Again, thanks for all the support. its fab to have this forum :D

Dragonflye, thanks for your experiences. Its so good to hear. Im starting to feel a little less anxious now....hopefully i can start to enjoy it! good luck with your 3rd.

Jo :D
 
Good luck with the pregnancies Jo and Dragonfly :thumbup:
 
Aw.. love hearing about new babies...even if they're still podding! Congrats to both of you!

I can't offer advice, but just to say that my brother's SinL has two of the most beautiful little girls you've ever seen and I know that she's been diabetic for a very long time...since toddlerhood I believe. So I'm positive everything will go extremely well for you!

Ju
 
Hi and many congratulations

I'm a Type 1 and I have a little boy who is nearly 2. I've been a diabetic for over 30 years ( yes not only a diabetic pregnancy but a 'mature' pregnancy also, I was 39 ).

My care consisted of weekly appointments at antenatal from finding out I was pregnant, scans at 12, 20, 28, 32 and 36 weeks, a fetal echo scan at 20 weeks, twice weekly monitoring of baby's heart rate from 36 weeks and induction at 38 weeks.

Your diabetes will have to be kept under very tight control, if I remember rightly before meals at 4 - 5.5 and two hours after meals at 6 - 8. This is likely to result in a higher risk of hypos so plenty of tests and letting the people around you know what to watch for. Your Hba1c will probably be done on a monthly basis and should be below 6.5%. This is what you will likely be advised to aim for, how many women actually achieve it I wonder, but the closer you can get to it the better for you and your baby

My control was good but certainly not as precise as this. My son was born at 7lb 8.5 oz with no problems. He is now a good eater and sleeper .... and climber!

I'm about to start pre pregnancy clinic for baby number 2 so it can't be that bad :D

Tracey

Ps you will need to get some higher strength folic acid from your doctor.
 
Congratulations! Have been diabetic since I was 15 months, am now 50. Have three daughters.
yes, it's a jolly harder slog for us but we can do it.
You'll find your health care professionals will be supportive, interested and helpful (if they're not have a kind word with them!).
You can do it Doll, obvious thing being testing, testing and testing. ALWAYS have glucose, I seem to remember always over bolusing to be on the safe side then going hypo.
Don't be too scared. You will be given so much info - let's face it, a whole ton of diabetic women have been pregnant so the info is there!
All the best.
Loved your post, I was the same as you with my first one 19 years ago!
 
Hi Tracey :)
Have a look now. Now that you have 6 posts you will be able to use the private message facility. The minimum is 5. Hope this helps.
 
I have been a Type 1 for 34 years, diagnosed at 21 years of age. I had my daughter when I was 27, and I can't remember all the details now, but I do know that I spent most of the pregnancy in fear! I was carefully monitored by the hospital, and tested my blood very regularly, and had a very healthy 5lb 4 oz baby girl. I was induced at 38 weeks as the scan revealed that the baby was growing rapidly (they guessed at 9lbs), and needed to be born before she grew too large!! Shows how much scans have improved over the years!

The best peice of advice I can offer is to enjoy your pregnancy as much as possible, and test yourself often. My son was born three years later, and I made sure that this time I relaxed and enjoyed it as much as possible. I did have a few hypos, and gave up driving for the duration, but all was well, and he was 6lb. Both have grown into very happy, healthy adults.

Many congratulations, I am sure you will be well looked after by your ante natal team, and I look forward to the very happy event being announced when the time comes :D .
 
Hi Mamalu

Thanks for your great words of encouragement. Its great to hear that you had 2 good pregnancies. It sooo encouraging to read about peoples experiences

Im feeling alot calmer about it now. My hospital & all the team at the diabetes clinic are looking after me really well. Sounds like I'll be spending the majority of the next nine months there, what with all the appointments! not complaining though & its great to feel so well looked after.

Thanks

Jo



:D :D
 
Congratultions Jo
You want this baby obviously and if you keep yourself well, all should be ok. The maternity diabetes teams are usually better than the ordinary ones.
I know the ones at our local hospital and they are great! Get transferred to their care ASAP
Hana
Ps read Lois Jovanovic. she's a Californian doctor who specialises in the care of mothers. She's diabetic herself
 
Back
Top