Type 1 trying for a baby

[Cupcake55]

In December 2011 I found out I was pregnant, me and my boyfriend where over the moon. I booked an appointment to see the midwife in January and one week before the midwife appointment I was involved in a minor car accident, I went to A&E to check everything was okay, I had no pain or anything and they did a urine test and told me I was pregnant and sent me back home.

One week later I started having some spotting so I called my midwife who told me to go to the nearest clinic, they then booked a scan at the hospital the next day. At the scan I should have been around 9 weeks pregnant but sadly the baby died at 8 weeks and I then began to miscarry. (end of January) I was told this was nothing to do with the car accident.

Then a month later I started having diabetes symptoms, was sent for blood tests after losing a stone and becoming quite poorly and sure enough at the beginning of March I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Nobody was ever able to tell me whether my miscarriage was caused by diabetes but I am assuming it was?

I have now got used to my insulin and have good control of my blood sugar levels, me and my partner want to start trying for a baby again but I am terrified of having another miscarriage or having complications during the pregnancy. I had a miscarriage 3 years ago too, so I am worried to say the least :cry: My DSN is useless and I hate going to the diabetes clinic because they really don’t help me and I have basically taught myself to carb count/ adjust my insulin etc. I am just looking for any help or advice from anybody that has had a successful pregnancy that is also Type 1?

Sorry for the long post! x

 

[AMBrennan]

Whilst I don't have personal experience, I'm sure someone will be around soon. Don't blame yourself and don't give up hope.

In the meantime, I found the following: The NHS says that

Miscarriages are much more common than most people realise.
[...]Among women who know they are pregnant, it is estimated that 12% of these pregnancies will end in miscarriage.

Also, they list "diabetes (if it is poorly controlled)" as a risk factor in 2nd trimester. I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but it was quite possibly nothing more than bad luck for these two events to coincide.

It's my understanding that it's quite possible to safely have a baby as a diabetic if the condition is well controlled (NHS says HbA1c 6.1% or better).

I'm sorry if you DSN is useless, but I think that it is essential to have a care team you can work with; diabetes is for life, and I can't see this working out in the long run if you don't trust them. Consider changing GP, and ask for a referral for specialist pre-conception care.

 

[janabelle]

Hi Cupcake55,
I've been type-1 since I was 19 and had my first child at 22, seems like a lifetime ago!
I, too, had a miscarriage at 8 weeks with my second pregnancy 18 yrs ago. Like you, I'd had an accident, a fall down some stairs before I knew I was pregnant. I'd had a scan to confirm the pregnancy, but on the day of my antenatal appt I started bleeding and was told to rest at home. I miscarried a 4 days later. I asked the nurse whether the fall was anything to do with it, and she said it was unlikely . Miscarriages are sadly very common and devastating even at such an early stage, it had a huge impact on our family. I was lucky to fall pregnant 3 months after my miscarriage, and went on to have another son. I had my 3rd son 6 1/2 yrs later.
I can't say my diabetes was perfectly controlled through any of my pregnancies, although it was far more stable than any other time in my life, which I put down to the fact that I tend to have huge hormonal swings, which I didn't suffer in pregnancy.
Type-1 diabetic mums are monitored very closely thoughout pregnancy and labour, and usually induced by 38 weeks. I had 2 natural deliveries and an elective cesaerian with my 3rd (unavoidable, due to my eldest son being very ill at the time).
My heart goes out to you, and perhaps it would be good to discuss things with your GP. However there is no reason why you should not go on to have a healthy pregnancy with type-1 diabetes, and I'm sure lots more women will come on here to reassure you.
All the best
Jus

 

[noblehead]

Cupcake,

Just like to wish you both every success in trying for a baby. The following link is an on-line version of a carb counting course similar to DAFNE, you do need to register first but it's worth it:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

 

[jopar]

My first pregnancy, was before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I lost my twins at 5 months not easy, as nobody could say 'why' as such, I say as such because they had a theory that it was something to do with a tilt! It was a very traumatic time as I know they were identical, and I'm an non-identical twin myself...

I had my oldest daughter with no problems until I hit the labour ward, but nothing major though.

My diabetic conformation was given to me, in the same phone call that confirmed that I was pregnant with my son, double whamy as I wasn't expecting either at the time, that was 23 years ago under the old carb exchange system a lot stricter diabetic regime than today's, so spent 3 weeks in hospital starting my insulin regime..

9 months later, I fell pregnant with my youngest daughter, and she was fine as well.

Said youngest daughter is 37+2, so I'm going to be a grandma any day soon :shock:

Sadly since having my youngest daughter, I have suffered 5 early miscarriages, but these weren't diabetic related, but to do with the tilt that they felt caused the lose of the twins.

What you need to do, is asked to be referred to your 'diabetic pre-pregnancy clinic' this is a specialist clinic with higher and specialist input to prepare you for pregnancy, giving all the information concerning the risk factors for a diabetic mum, helping you bring your diabetic control into a suitable range that gives you the best chance of going through the pregnancy with minimum of problems etc..

Good luck, I'm sure that everything will work out fine...

 

[hails]

I feel for you. I am in the process of getting a pump so I can try for pregnancy... I am very nervous too

 

[Cupcake55]

Thank you all for your replies, it is nice to have some reasurance and hear that other people with Type 1 have gone on to have healthy children

I am seeing DSN in October so i will continue to keep good blood sugar levels and will speak to her then to see where to go from here.

Good Luck to you Hails, hope everything works out xx :thumbup:

 

[TUI]

Thank you all for your replies, it is nice to have some reasurance and hear that other people with Type 1 have gone on to have healthy children

I am seeing DSN in October so i will continue to keep good blood sugar levels and will speak to her then to see where to go from here.

Good Luck to you Hails, hope everything works out xx :thumbup:

Yes good luck dear, my grandsons partner is Type 1 diabetic and last year gave us a beautiful little great grandaughter, such joy. x