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

What are the possible difficulties of diabetes in pregnancy?

IcedSnowflake

IcedSnowflake

Member
Messages
15
Location
Suffolk, UK
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I'm 18 weeks pregnant with baby #5, but my first being a diabetic. I'm wondering what the possible difficulties could be, all I've been told is baby could be big, and as my last baby was 9lb 8oz, I'm obviously nervous! I don't want to Google it, as we know Google is a scary place. X
 
As long as you manage your sugars (cut the carbs) you'll be fine.

Don't think about the what if I don't but consider it being not far off to smoking and drinking - don't do it!

Be mindful, eat right and all will be fine! And congrats
 
IcedSnowflake said:
I'm 18 weeks pregnant with baby #5, but my first being a diabetic. I'm wondering what the possible difficulties could be, all I've been told is baby could be big, and as my last baby was 9lb 8oz, I'm obviously nervous! I don't want to Google it, as we know Google is a scary place. X
Click to expand...

Congratulations, I wouldnt' worry too much about that, as everyone is different. The biggest baby I had was 6 lb 4 oz, not diabetic then and that was big enough, I was told I wouldn't be able to give birth to a 'larger baby,'
You will be closely monitored and any intervention will be made if necessary. So just enjoy your pregnancy and look forward to the day when you hold your new baby in your arms. Take care and best wishes RRB
 
Don't cut your carbs! You need those for the baby! Just adjust your insulin accordingly. The differences to a non diabetic I had were being seen in clinic a lot more frequently (every 1-2 weeks) more scans, being induced at 38 weeks which I hear all diabetics are! Also my baby was in special care for a week when born due to low blood sugars but I was warned before hand that this is common with babies of diabetic mothers. Test frequently and look after your a1c's and your baby will be healthy size. Mine was 7lb 8 but id heard horror story's of big babies!
 
I have to say I disagree with Charisma about the low carbs issue...reducing your carb intake is a good way to control your sugars and prevent post prandial highs. Obviously you won't be able to cut them altogether but reducing them helps. I limited myself to 30-50grams carbs per day during my pregnancy, had a completely healthy baby weighing 6lb12oz who didn't have any problems with hypoglycaemia. A baby will get what it needs from you and doesn't need large amounts of carbs. It needs you to have stable BMs which reducing carbs helps.
Did you have the diabetes pre-pregnancy or is it gestational diabetes?
Good luck!
 
^^^^^^what she said^^^^^^^
My wife got diabetes whilst pregnant , was put on metformin and was told if her post meal BGs wherent reigned in she'd be put on injections - this was enough to make her eat right.

The risk to the baby is elevated BGs which will cause the baby to grow excessively (hence why as a diabetic you'll probably be asked to be induced earlier). The best way to minimise this excessive growth is to minimise/ eliminate your carb intake (you'll get plenty of good carbs from things like salads none root veg and if you body really needs it, protein will convert to glucose also).

If eliminating carbs is too extreme, try to heavily restrict them instead (half/quarter your previous portions, stop eating fruit, replace with non root veg, eat more (fat to keep you satisfied etc). Any changes in your eating will affect your BGs so keep regular monitoring up (pre meal and 2hr post)

The other way to reduce your glucose? Medication (as guided by your healthcare provider)... But as many will say, drugs are unpredictable and have side effects.

It may seem tough, but just think, a few months of controlling your eats for a better chance of a healthy easy to deliver baby.
 
Applenerd81 said:
^^^^^^what she said^^^^^^^
My wife got diabetes whilst pregnant , was put on metformin and was told if her post meal BGs wherent reigned in she'd be put on injections - this was enough to make her eat right.

The risk to the baby is elevated BGs which will cause the baby to grow excessively (hence why as a diabetic you'll probably be asked to be induced earlier). The best way to minimise this excessive growth is to minimise/ eliminate your carb intake (you'll get plenty of good carbs from things like salads none root veg and if you body really needs it, protein will convert to glucose also).

If eliminating carbs is too extreme, try to heavily restrict them instead (half/quarter your previous portions, stop eating fruit, replace with non root veg, eat more (fat to keep you satisfied etc). Any changes in your eating will affect your BGs so keep regular monitoring up (pre meal and 2hr post)

The other way to reduce your glucose? Medication (as guided by your healthcare provider)... But as many will say, drugs are unpredictable and have side effects.

It may seem tough, but just think, a few months of controlling your eats for a better chance of a healthy easy to deliver baby.
Click to expand...
Thank you Applenerd. I am currently on 1500mg of Metformin a day, was introduced last week after my readings spiked a lot more, I have dramatically cut carbs already & do a fare bit of exercise (I'm on my feet a lot when I'm working, plus normal mummy/wife duties at home), I saw my nutritionist 3 weeks back who ran through my food diary, she informed me I wasn't eating enough dairy so have had to up that, but I was eating a lot of rice & pasta, hence the carb cut since, but my reading are still everywhere just now, mainly mornings & after breakfast. I have also been informed I have an infection, which ontop of the DB means I will be induced early while being put onto an antibiotic drip for the duration of labour (currently looking at 38 weeks). I guess I'll just keep trying to fight these darn levels & hope baba doesn't get much bigger than my last!
 
I ate what I wanted and kept an a1c of 6.1% throughout the pregnancy and had a healthy baby weight 7lb8 Its not necessary to reduce carbs to have good control but whatever works for you!
 
JessP said:
I have to say I disagree with Charisma about the low carbs issue...reducing your carb intake is a good way to control your sugars and prevent post prandial highs. Obviously you won't be able to cut them altogether but reducing them helps. I limited myself to 30-50grams carbs per day during my pregnancy, had a completely healthy baby weighing 6lb12oz who didn't have any problems with hypoglycaemia. A baby will get what it needs from you and doesn't need large amounts of carbs. It needs you to have stable BMs which reducing carbs helps.
Did you have the diabetes pre-pregnancy or is it gestational diabetes?
Good luck!
Click to expand...
I was "diagnosed" 2 years ago, so already had it pre-pregnancy, been diet controlled until last week. To be honest, cutting carbs just now doesn't seem to make much of a stable difference, the only thing that guarantees no spike is omelette, but I'm sick to death of them now I've now switched my milk to almond, and bought some plain yogurt and blueberry's to see of that helps.
 
Re the carbs, it also depends on what kind of diabetes you have and how it's treated, as well as things specific to you, like your weight, etc.

I have Type 1 and was worried about my carb intake, but having spoken to my consultant (and got advice here) I'm feeling happier. My HbA1C is currently 29, which is around 4.8, I think. I eat something like 175g of carbs a day.

Other concerns for a diabetic pregnancy are a greater risk of pre-eclampsia and a premature deterioration of the placenta. My obstetrician said that even if baby is a perfect size, they like to induce around 38 weeks just to be safe regarding the placenta function.
 
Back
Top