Thanks, Sarah! I will definitely look into Cheryl Atkin's book. I'm still on a fairly simple insulin regime- just 9 units of Levimir in the morning. After reading some posts in these forums, I've realized that I have much to learn about basal and bolus insulin and perhaps, getting onto the pump before I think about pregnancy.
I'm very glad that I found this site too!
Hi Ladies! My name is Vicky. I am not in the DC area, I live in a suburb of Chicago but I wanted to respond. I am a t1 for almost 23 years. I am pg with #3. I have two healthy beautiful boys. ages: 5 and 17 months. I am sue in Sept, I am almost 17 weeks along. I am on the medtronic minimed REVEL. I switched Endo's with this pregancy and she has my try the Dexcom and I loved it. I have the CGM by Minimed, however I find calbrating it to be rather difficult.
As far as diabetes and pg goes, I see my OB to confirm I am pregnant, they confirm hormones and progestrone levels are normal/healthy. at 6 weeks they refer me to Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk specialists). I manage the diabetes through my Endo, and this takes weekly numbers to send in, and monthly or more visits. As a high-risk patient, I see the MFM (maternal fetal medicine) dr's every month at first, this includes an intial ultrasound, questions, diagnostics. then at 10/11 weeks they do a level 1 ultrasound to assess the babies growth and any abnormalities. then at 13/14 weeks you can do genetic testing to test chromosonal defects, i.e. downs, triscomy.....at 20 weeks you do a level 2 u/s to once again assess the babies growth and health of pregnancy and shortly thereafter an echocaridogram to assess the babies heart. from there more visits and tests are required and to be honest I lost track of what is after the echo...by 33 or so weeks I started the non stress tests weekly, then eventually 2x per week until birth or in my case scheduled c-section.
all in all it's a time consuming process, but you get A LOT of opportunites to see the baby via ultra sound. My girlfriends that are not high risk only received 2 or 3 u/s whereas I has at least 2 dozen or more with each pregnancy. You get a lot of reassurance with the MFM doctors as well. I find they are very involved throughout the pregnancy which I enjoyed having their expertise along the way.
Post-op the first time was very difficult because I had an emergency c-section bc my 1st couldn't get through and got stuck in my canal. I pushed for over 3 hours and his shoulders got stuck, hence the emergency c-sect. So we planned for another c-section with #2 and it was MUCH better. In fact I was able to move the first day and walk by day 2. It was way worse with the 1st. I could hardly breath, let alone move or walk with the first. We are planning for another c-section. I had my first 2 at 39 weeks to avoid extra complications with prolonged maternity.
The most difficult times I found where weeks 6-12ish, due to nausea and being so tired. and the third trimester is annoying becuase my carb ratio more than quadrupaled. Your placenta producses some hormone that makes you VERY insulin resistence the further along you get. Then once the baby comes out, along with the placenta, your insuling levels go back to almost what they were the day before you conceived. It is so weird to adjust so rapidly.
I hope I answered some questions for you. Sorry for the terrible grammar and spelling, it is a little late over here and I am exhausted and just a plain terrible speller!
I wish you all the very best in your health and pregnancies. It may be extra work on our T1 ends, however, it is such a trip meeting that healthy perfect little person once they are born!