On the pump....planning a baby..advice

[hkbarts]

Hello

I have been on the pump since Jan 2011 and hba1c is fab at 6.6 from 8.2 my control is good and would never go back to injections I love my pump.

I am hoping to start trying for a baby in next month or two....it will be my first and as I am diabetic and have been for 15 years plus 30!! I do have concerns and worries about having a healthy baby and if anyone has any tips on improving the chances of a perfectly healthy baby please can you advise.

I would like any advice on treatment that happens throughout pregnancy and birth

thanks

 

[MushyPeaBrain]

Hello!

One of my diabetic friends has just had her first baby whilst pumping. Firstly you need to get your eyes checked as pregnancy increases the risks of retinopathy so you have to make sure you are all clear. Any laser treatment needs to be carried out pre pregnancy to avoid problems.

The clinic will probably want you to lower your HbA1c even further as they are very strict about keeping it down whilst pregnant as raised levels affect the baby. She had to keep he BG around 5.4 and have an HbA1c every month!!

She was doing 10 blood tests a day on average and her fingers went black and as the pregnancy progressed she needed more and more insulin as you become insulin resistant. She went from 30u/day to over 150u/day before birth :shock: This meant changing cannula more often as the sites get sore faster and they advise changing more often, sometimes daily, to keep sites working correctly.

She uses her stomach area for sets but this caused problems later when the baby moved and the set burst off a couple of times!! You need to look at other sites and always carry spare sets.

Her clinic also made her have an induced labour (they insist on this for diabetics) and wanted to take her off pump and onto a drip they control. She is very strong willed and argued and argued this and got to stay on pump during labour, with her husband trained in how to alter dose. This wouldn't be for everyone.

I was amazed at how hard being diabetic and pregnant was, even on pump, BUT she does have a beautiful, healthy baby born who was born a healthy weight and has no medical issues. Good luck!!!!

 

[hkbarts]

Thank you that is really interesting. I am aware about having to change cannula more and but my diabetic nurse said last week I am ok to start trying now but maybe I should try get hba1c down more first!!

I want everything to be perfect and don't mind the hard work - I am pretty obsessive now with my bloods

 

[MushyPeaBrain]

Also saw this and it looks good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide ... 1450223540

 

[jopar]

I would go on the advise of your DSN who has all your relevant information...

As things such as age, realistic changes of achieving xxxx HbA1c and your general health and/if you got any other diabetic complications that require consideration into the equation..

I've had two babies while diabetic, in my day there wasn't the availabilyt of accurate testing as such or the insulin regimes, just 2 jabs a day and a measured amount of carb intake :evil: But both my babies were born perfectly heatlhy even though I had a rough ride with the second one.. But now are young healthy adults..

 

[Dragonflye]

I wasnt put onto a pump until after I had my 2nd baby however in both pregnancies my doctors were very happy with HBA1c of around 6.5 and so far both children are perfectly healthy. For both pregnancies I was delivered at 38weeks, from what I've seen this is standard in most areas but does occasionally vary. They do advise more testing regardless of being on pump or MDI because hormones can send your sugars haywire and 8/10 towards end of pregnancy your insulin requirements will go up (when my son was born in december I was on 1unit for 1 carb )
Not sure how it works with pump but immediately after birth my insulin requirement dropped, and I mean immediately but I imagine if you remain on pump you will get advise on how to deal with that
Good luck with everything!!!

 

[hkbarts]

Thank you all so much for advise really helpful x x

 

[Unicornz]

Thank you that is really interesting. I am aware about having to change cannula more and but my diabetic nurse said last week I am ok to start trying now but maybe I should try get hba1c down more first!!

I want everything to be perfect and don't mind the hard work - I am pretty obsessive now with my bloods

Are you on folic acid yet? My nurse told me (I'm not considering trying anytime soon but I have informed :wink that I needed to be on special prescribed stronger folic acid ideally 6 months before trying to conceive.

Also, she said an HbA1C around 6.5 is good enough, so I think yours is perfectly fine for it. Of course, the lower the better, but not if this is because lots of hypos

Best of luck with everything, hope things go well for you! I need to stop thinking about babies now, it makes me broody lol!

 

[hkbarts]

I am on 5mg of folic and have been taking for over 6 months and taking vitamins too.

I think I have done everything right so I'm hoping to start anytime now but trying to not worry too much and be stressed as I am a worrier.

I'm ridiculously broody can't wait good luck for when you decide to start too

 

[Unicornz]

It sounds like you're doing perfect! And I am a big worrier myself so I know exactly how you are feeling. I also know I can say you shouldn't as much as I want but it won't help

It can take a little while to conceive so you can still keep up the brilliant work and get your HbA1C lower before you actually get pregnant if you do want to start trying soon. You did get the go ahead after all

Also, didn't realise you were so local! I live in Saltaire do you go to Bradford Royal Infirmary as well? Do they do pre-conception clinics? How was your experience?

 

[hkbarts]

How strange I live at apperley bridge I use to go to salts I'm 30 now so a while ago now.

yes bri and yes have pre con clinic been really good sorted out my hba1c on the pump had diabetes for 15 years so I have been amazed how much better I have been.

apparently have really good pregnancy care

thanks keep in touch

 

[Unicornz]

My bf used to go to Salts too but he was a few years ahead of you I've only lived here for a year now or so.

Sounds good about the pre conception clinic, do you know if it's done by the same nurses that do the normal appointments or will you be seeing different people?

I know, I've been diabetic for 9 years and never was able to get it under control with HbA1C hovering between 8 and 10 all the time! Went on the pump in March and got it down to 6.9 in June I was so happy and surprised! Now just to keep it up... my morning levels have been a bit high the past two weeks so I think I might have to do a basal test tonight to figure it out. It's a lot of work but worth it!

 

[hkbarts]

I was exactly the same hba1c between 8 - 10 and waking up with bad headaches as blood sugars dropping into 2s and 3s in my sleep - a bad time. But since the pump this doesn't happen thank god. My boyfriend has save me a few times to say the least.

I think been diabetic for a long time makes you worry I know I get anxious a lot in last 3 years.

I have Sandra at the BRI and see is fantastic she will be my midwife too

Are you wanting to plan for a baby in the future?

 

[Unicornz]

Oh I have Sandra too, she's fab! She's helped me so much and she knows really a lot. I didn't know she was a midwife too?

I am definitely that's why I'm working so hard to get it under control now so that when we do decide to go for it I am all ready! It won't be for another year or two but I thought I better get my ass in gear asap

 

[hkbarts]

Yes well I have been been sorting it out for over a year now.

I didn't know at first until she was late for an appointment and told me she had been at maternity ward!!!!

I mean maybe i'm wrong but either way she is their with you when you have it even if only to adminster the pump as not a lot of nurses are aware of them and they don't want you to take it off.

But she told me to let her know when I find out i'm pregnant and she knows everything about birth rates, problems, scans etc so I am pleased about that.

How old are you if you dont mind me asking?

x

 

[Dragonflye]

Sandra isnt a midwife but she does know a lot regarding diabetes and pregnancy
i used to hate sandra, when I first saw her when I moved from the st lukes to bri and she put me on to MDI (i was on 2x a day before and i wanted to go back... fought for 5 years to go back to 2x... not long after got pregnant and my first appointment at the maternity unit she put me straight back onto MDI...) however loved her ever since she's really good and does know her stuff and great to know when your GP is causing you issues regarding test strips...

 

[hkbarts]

Oh right I was alwaysunder that impression

Does she assist when in labour? What does mdi stand for ?

Thanks

 

[Unicornz]

Ahh I get it and what a coincidence we all go to BRI lol.

I've loved Sandra from the beginning she was the first person to even think to put me on Levemir after I couldn't get consistent readings on Lantus and when that failed she suggested the pump and got me funding for it that same week! She knows a lot and she gets things done! I get what you mean though at the beginning Dragonflye.

 

[hkbarts]

Yes it is a coincidence,

I love Sandra she has been brilliant with me, did exactly the same as you unicornz and got my hba1c down to 6.7 so really really pleased I know I did alot of hard work but needed the support.

Do us diabetic's have a midwife like other people or specialist? Sorry i have no idea.

thanks

 

[Dragonflye]

no she has absolutely no involvement in the actual labour last i saw of her was a tuesday appointment where I had my section on the friday there is a "team" of midwives so unfortunately there is no consistancy and the ones you see during labour are not the ones you see while your pregnant... I had a local midwife but I spoke to her 1x during pregnancy, and that was for a referal to the specialist team, and saw her a few times after each of my babies were born