Hi Everyone!
I am Type 1 (diagnosed 2yrs ago), and my husband and I are hoping to get pregnant in the next 6 months. Does anyone have any tips on pregnancy planning or pregnancy in general as someone with Type 1? I would love any feedback, stories, advice, tips, etc. It would be much appreciated! I look forward to your input! Thanks a bunch!
Katie
Hi Katie - I think most people would agree that the most important thing is to work with your endo to ensure your BGs are under strict control before you get pregnant. You'll also want to get referred to a high risk OB/GYN (I went to a perinatalogist) or an OB/GYN that has experience with women with type 1 diabetes & pregnancy. Other than that, I think it's just the normal stuff to consider when planning. As far as pregnancy, I think if you've read the other posts out here, you'll see most women with type 1 see their OBs more often than women without type 1 and they tend to have their babies delivered early - sometimes by c-section, sometimes by induction. Good luck!
Hi Katie!
Thanks so much for your post! I have been working very hard to get my blood sugars under control as I know that is going to be key to a healthy pregnancy for both myself and my future baby. Since I am still fairly new to the world of Type 1 (Diagnosed 2yrs ago), I have been working closely with my endo and nutritionist on this. Most recently, my endo started me on Metformin along with my pump and that has made a HUGE difference on my BG levels. I was really surprised that she wanted to do this since this med did not have any effect on my blood sugars when 1st diagnosed - before on insulin (while the Dr's were trying to figure out if I was Type 1 of Type 2), but she said she has been recommending this alot for her Type 1s that appear to be becoming insulin resistant. Either way, I am thrilled that it is helping! Thanks for listening and I will look forward to chatting with you again soon!
Katie
I am in the exact same boat right now. I was diagnosed about 2 and a half years ago and I am just getting use to being type 1. My husband and I are planning on being ready to get pregnant in about 6 months and I am working to get my a1c down. So basically I don't have any tips yet but I would love it if you would update me on anything you find out!
Hi There!
So glad you replied! It looks like you are new to Juvenation also...I just stumbled upon the site last weekend. It has been a wonderful support thus far!
So you were diagnosed 2yrs ago too? How old were you when you were diagosed? I was 26, so quite a bit later in life than usual.
I would be happy to keep you posted as I figure things out while working toward pregnancy!
Hope all is going ok for you with adjusting to being diabetic. It has been a challenge for me, with many ups and downs, but I feel like I am finally getting a handle on things...which really helps my motivation to work hard.
Would love to hear back from you if you have a chance!
Katie
Hi Katie! I was also diagnosed at age 26 - 3 years ago. It was partly shocking and partly not. My younger bro has been T1 for 16 years (since he was 9) so at least I knew what I was dealing with and what was to be expected of me. I got preganant a little over a year after my diagnosis and my pregnancy and birth went very well. My daughter is now 17 months and having her is amazing! Sounds like you've got a great doctor who is working with you to get BGs in the target range, which is great. My healthcare team was a great support throughout my pregnancy. My biggest piece of advice is to try to relax and enjoy the process and not let stress and worry get to you (if you are that kind of person). I am the kind of person who stresses easily and I wish I'd just enjoyed the experience more, in the end a lot of my worry was needless. I'll be better about it the second time around! (Planning on trying again in a couple of months.) Good luck to you and I look forward to getting to know you and hear more of your story!
Thanks Candace! I am "one of those people too". More so sometimes than I would like to admit. :-) I am so glad to hear that all went well with your 1st pregnancy. I am sure the 2nd time around, you will be a pro. I plan to meet with my OB in about a month or so to talk to her about when I would like to start trying, etc. and to find out what the process usually looks like for her T1 patients...# of ultrasounds, frequency of visits, etc. My biggest concern right now is whether or not I need to see a Maternal/Fetal Medicine Specialist when the time comes...the closest one to me is almost an hour away and I am trying to weight the pros and cons of whether it would be worth the extra bit of stress to travel see one. Thoughts?
Thanks again! And I look forward to getting to know you as well!
Katie
I did see a Perinatologist (Maternal/Fetal Specialist) but that was what my OB recommended. The specialist also had an in-office CDE that I did not see. I met with her twice and just didn't really gel with her, so I continued to see my own endo every week during my entire pregnancy. I felt comfortable with my decision because my endo had done an in-depth study of pregnancy in diabetics vs non-diabetics during his fellowship - so he knew what he was doing with helping me manage BGs, insulin, and eating during pregnancy (which can be dramatically different than when not pregnant).
If I were you, I'd talk to my OB and see how comfortable she feels helping you manage a diabetic pregnancy. If she's comfortable and has experience in the area, I don't think you necessarily need to see a specialist. It's all about your and her level of comfort, in my opinion. My specialist really only reviewed my ultrasounds once a month and my non-stress tests during the last trimester. I still saw my OB on the regular schedule (on top of the visits to the specialist) and my reg OB was the one who delivered my baby. I hope that helps.
Hi Candace!
Yes...that's very helpful to know. I will have an in-depth conversation with my OB when I see her next month to have the pregnancy planning talk. Take care and thanks again!
Katie