• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2026 Survey »

Pregnant and petrified !!

Hi

Your post caught my attention as I too am pregnant and petrified. Now 15 weeks. Up to 12 weeks no one from the diabetic staff contacted me and i really felt alone. I have done the dafne training and felt confident about changing my insulin doses. My insulin requirement has dropped dramatically - halved even and still experiencing daily hypos, which is a struggle. I understand at around 26 weeks, if not before, the body's need for insulin dramatically increases. Im scared witless that this will mean high sugar levels for me and a very large baby.

Interesting the sonogragher commented on the size of your baby and re downs. Ours didn't and all the literature provided states different measurements for each stage in any event so I've decided to listen to what the consultant tells me rather than reading too much into mother and baby magazines etc. I was told the test results would take up to 2 working weeks. 3 working weeks later some of the tests are outstanding. I'm treating this as a good thing. If there was a concern they would ring.

I go for my second scan tomorrow. Fingers crossed everything is well. At the last meeting left feeling that until the 20 week scan shows no abnormalities they weren't investing the time and effort. But I have very high expectations of them as I have always felt their expectations of me are high. I felt the meeting went along the lines of you're doing well, the scan looks good BUT here's your risks. so i went from elation to anxiety very quickly.

My bump started to show around 13 weeks. It keeps shrinking and growing. When it looks bigger i worry the baby is getting too big too quickly and when it looks small i worry something has happened and its not growing.

I read some positive stories on the dafne online website - one lady has 3 children and another has 2. I have found the experience so challenging and worrying that I'm amazed anyone revisits it. But these ladies and others I've found make it all sound very bearable.

I also find everyone (non diabetics) like to tell you that your baby is going to be big. As if that helps. It just makes me worry more. I feel i'm being judged for the choices i'm making. But in some ways it has made me even more determined. We can only do our best and take it a day at a time. Sometimes the experts need reminding of that, there's a world of difference between theory and practice.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You sound determined to get it right and you will do, it just takes time. When I feel my best is not good enough, I imagine what will be in a years time, when the baby is here. It helps.
 
Hi All.

I'm currently in a little cafe in Canada and have read, fairly quickly, all the posts. I'm a Midwife with no specialist knowledge of diabetes and pregnancy but I'm hoping I may be able to help with a few points.

1. access to pregnancy care varies hugely throughout the country.
2. all women are entitled to refer themselves directly to their community Midwife. You do NOT have to be seen by your GP at all. Know who to complain to at the surgery if some receptionist is being bolshy.
3. specialist clinics are usually available at the nearest maternity unit to where you live. Some trusts arrange outlying clinics to remote areas, some trusts may provide something else innovative.
4. It is unusual to see a Midwife for a 'booking' appointment before 10 weeks. This appointment determines any referrals you may need, what sort of care you want and where you want to birth your baby. Usually, a set of bloods are taken, with your consent I hasten to add, to determine iron levels, blood group and if you are positive for syphilis or HIV. This again, varies throughout the country, some offer more.
5. it's incredibly sad but if a miscarriage is going to happen, it's going to happen. There is nothing than can stop it. Any excessive bleeding or pain and a trip to A&E is advisable. Some trusts have a minimum gestation for referral to Obstetrics, usually around 16 weeks. Again, this varies around the country.
6. ALL tests and procedures should be OFFERED to you, the benefits and disadvantages of them discussed beforehand and your explicit consent must be given before anyone can lay a hand on you. Get stroppy to get the care you want (usually not necessary). It's your body and your baby. HCP's can only offer advice, they CANNOT tell you what to do (although they frequently try). It is up to the client to do the allowing.
7. get online and do the research
http://www.rcm.org.uk/
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ are good starting points
http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/Pregnancycar ... yHome.aspx
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/home

and this is what NICE have to say about pregnancy and diabetes

http://www.nice.org.uk/CG63

My lift is waiting to take me to the airport, catch up tomorrow.

wiflib
 
Hey, new on here and thought id ask for some advice!

Trying for a baby with my partner and taking 5mg of folic acid but struggling to keep my sugar level around 7 when I wake up. This morning, at 5.30 I woke up feeling dry eyes and dreading what my sugars were, and they were 13.9. I have some good mornings of being around 8 or 9, even 5 (yes, all over the place) and my control is good during the day.
I'm due to take a test in a couple of days but so worried because of these high readings and the fact it's early on this could be quite damaging, should I get a positive result.

I'm waiting to get referred to the diabetic obstetrician. I already have a 7 year old son and didn't take folic acid with him until about 6!weeks gone as I wasn't aware I was pregnant, luckily no congenital abnormalities, just a big baby!

I'm aware I'm typing too much! Any advice from anyone with similar experiences, was the baby healthy?

Thank you


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

Hi, @Katherine88

You could try the parenting section lower down the list where you might find helpful discussion on that kind of thing...?
I never venture into that section myself, but here is a screenshot of where I mean..

Best of luck!

 

Hi It is so scary I know, but just to let you know.I too had a miscarriage at 8 weeks, bleeding and there was no heart beat, so I decided to let nature take it's course at home., that was in July 1999. The following October 2000 I had my darling daughter and she has grown into a lovely young lady and a healthy , happy teenager. I was 42 1/2 years old. So don't ever give up, hope is always there and I know that sometimes the sadness is just down to mother nature. Try to enjoy your pregnancy and look forward to the day you hold your new born in your arms
You are also young and hopefully fit and healthy and the best thing you can do is try your hardest to give that precious little baby a good start in life by getting your control in a good and stable place.. I wish you all the very best and good luck.x
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…