Women - What does your doctor say?

[jazzy1]

I was reading through another post that got me to wondering. For all of the women out there who have had children (while being diabetic) or plan on having them, what does your doctor say about diabetics having children. Do they encourage you to go ahead with your family planning but keep tight control...or do they tell you not to do it?

When I had my son, my doctor spoke to me about "considering my options" because she didn't think having a baby was a good idea. I was floored at the fact that she wasn't very encouraging at a time that should have been joyous.

[mg_2204]

Although I had 3 diabetic pregnancies, I wasn't diagnosed diabetic until later, in 1994 to be precise. But my doc did tell me I'd have to consider my options too, when I was pregnant of my third child. 3 children now is considered a big family anyway! Of course doctors will be cautious, it's in our best interests. I was told that if I wanted a 4th child I'd have to see the doc before I got pregnant. Had I really wanted another I would have gone and done whatever it was required to have a healthy baby. But since 3 is my lucky number ... ;)

Marie
:)

[Belinda]

My doctor told me that when and if I choose to have children that I would have to use a different infusion site than I do now for my pump..so I am guessing that he knows it may come up some day!

[HeatherP]

My docs have always told me not to let the diabetes get in the way of having children. They said that it would be very important to control my sugars very very tightly and that it would be work, but it's doable.

When I first met my endo two years ago and he was taking my history, when I said "no kids" he peered at me over his glasses and said "not because of your diabetes is it?" and I assured him it wasn't. He said good, because it shouldn't be.

HeatherP

[SunniD]

Diabetics having children is riskier for sure. You should also
be aware that 50% of these children may come down with
diabetes. Some people aren't aware of that stat. I had a son
and he's not diabetic but my partner on another diabetic site
has one son also and he is diabetic. I guess we fall right
into the odds.<smile> I don't believe me knowing that would
have changed my mind. I do believe there is also a higher
incidence of Attention Deficit and Dyslexia and other problems.
My son has brain damage from birth which caused dyslexia.
So, if you are prepared to love any child you might receive
go ahead. One can't take them back*g* and sometimes
they don't leave home when they are supposed too. They
keep coming back!! <smile>

SunniD

[Dewey]

I agree that it may be riskier for Diabetics, but because of major medical advancements, it has been made easier for Diabetics to have children with little to no trouble. Even non-Diabetics can run risks. I have a fellow classmate who has had some complications with her pregnancy, and she has no health conditions which would put her at risk. Each person is different, and what may affect one adversely, may not affect another at all. I'm sorry to hear that your doctor wasn't more supportive of your decision, jazzy, and hope that you didn't experience any problems with your pregnancy or delivery.

[am1977]

Actually, my endo. did talk to me about this. He said that if I plan to have children, he recommends that I only have one or two. I can understand this, b/c when a normal healhy woman is pregnant, her body is under stress. Now, have a woman who is pregnant AND has a chronic illness, the stress the body is put under has to be multiplied by who knows how much. :confused: I think it's something every diabetic woman has to think about and consider. As for myself, I plan on taking my endo's advice. ;)

[gettingby]

I had been a diabetic for about 5 years when I got pregnant with my daughter. Sure, it wasn't easy but now that she's here(even though she is 14), I don't regret doing it. My Dr. did tell me that another pregnancy might be very risky(not just because of diabetes, because of my small build).
Cin

[christie]

none of my drs,endo,or ob dr had ever said anything about not having kids. when i had my last i opted for a c-section and a tubal to not have anymore kids,and my diabetic specialist ob kept trying to change my mind into not having a tubal and have more. my two was enough,the hypos were very hard on me.

[Willow]

My doc said he would like us to go see him when we want to try for children so that we can get all the help/advice/support from him etc. He stressed my control needs to be excellent beforehand too.

[Belinda]

Originally posted by SunniD
Diabetics having children is riskier for sure. You should also
I do believe there is also a higher
incidence of Attention Deficit and Dyslexia and other problems.
My son has brain damage from birth which caused dyslexia.
So, if you are prepared to love any child you might receive
go ahead. One can't take them back*g* and sometimes
they don't leave home when they are supposed too. They
keep coming back!! <smile>

SunniD

Diabetes does not cause ADHD nor Dyslexia. There is another underlying cause for these disorders. Today ADHD and ADD are both labels given to many children even with out diagnosis. People need both a psychological and a clinical for these ( trust me on this one since we have students tested in special ed all the time) just a parent or others saying they are ADHD does not work. Must be a doctor(you would be surprised on how many parents want their kids witht this label).

[Shalyndria]

Originally posted by SunniD
Diabetics having children is riskier for sure. You should also
be aware that 50% of these children may come down with
diabetes. Some people aren't aware of that stat.

SunniD, can you back this statement up? I've always been told that Type 1 Diabetes in itself is not a hereditary condition, it's the immunilogical aspect that may be genetic. If you're talking about Type 2 then perhaps this stat is true, although I wouldn't be aware of the percentage. Personally, my own family history would dispute this statement, as I have absolutely no history of any type of Diabetes in my family.

As it pertains to the topic, I spoke with my physician and CDE a few years ago and was told by both that I should avoid unplanned pregnancies and my A1c and BG's should be within a good range for at least 6 months prior to planning a pregnancy. Both have been very encouraging and given me positive support regarding any future pregnancies.

Shy

[Eri's mom]

Originally posted by Belinda
Diabetes does not cause ADHD nor Dyslexia. There is another underlying cause for these disorders. Today ADHD and ADD are both labels given to many children even with out diagnosis. People need both a psychological and a clinical for these ( trust me on this one since we have students tested in special ed all the time) just a parent or others saying they are ADHD does not work. Must be a doctor(you would be surprised on how many parents want their kids witht this label).


I hear ya on that Belinda...they tried labeling my son ADD, then ADHD...took him to another pediatrican, physcologist and psychiatrist, and they tested him and he doesn't have either one....as a matter of fact, they tested him and his IQ was really high...they say he is just bored...and a typical boy. I had to fight to have that label removed from his records(IEP) at school...they actually did though...they also labeled him C.A.P.D....but he did go deaf in one ear as a toddler.(his hearing has since come back thanks to a LOT of work).
OK, I went really :topic: here!!! sorry!!!

oh....Erica, believe it or not...has already informed us that she will NOT be having children...she's adopting b/c there are a lot of kids out there that need homes, and she doesn't want to risk the chance of giving any of her own children diabetes.(it came up one night while discussing something on this topic, and Eri's the type to just pipe in)....

[mg_2204]

... there was a 'trend' some years back to brand children has having ADD and ADHD. Many teachers would even suggest to parents they go and try to get Ritalin for their kids. Appalling!

Marie
:)

[KickStart101]

Hi Tiffany: When I was pregnant with my son, my Endo told
me my children only had a 4% chance of getting Diabetes.
If my husband had had Diabetes then our kids would have
had an 8% chance. When I wanted my second child, my
Endo didn't have a problem with it as long as I kept my sugars
in a good range which I did. It was my Rheumatoid Doctor
and my GP that had a fit about. ( I was dxd with RA when my son was about 1 yr. old ). They said I would probably go blind or have kidney failure. (I guess they had some bad experiences with their patients). I finally gave up and we went to the adoption classes. After the classes I became pregnant. Figure that, we were using rubbers faithfully. My Rheumy and Gp wanted me to abort the pregnancy due to my health. My Endo was fine with it. I said, "Sorry, I wanted my Boy first for his Father, We have him. Now I want my Girl.". And we have both. :)
***Carlie*** :)
P.S. I did have my tubes, "Cut, burnt, tied and stepped on",
as my Ob/Gyn reported with a smile when I had my C-section. Didn't want to push my Luck!!!!

[Eri's mom]

Originally posted by mg_2204
... there was a 'trend' some years back to brand children has having ADD and ADHD. Many teachers would even suggest to parents they go and try to get Ritalin for their kids. Appalling!

Marie
:)

Yep...they had me try my son on Ritalin, that didn't work...he looked skinnier than skinny...disgustingly skinny, so onto adderol....that made him sick, then onto concerta...the doc kept trying to cut the doses smaller, but my son, at 7 yrs old, became in insomniac, could NOT gain weight to save his life b/c he couldn't eat, and hateful and even spoke of suicidal thoughts. I told the docs and the teachers to shove the pills where the sun doesn't shine and let my child be...I can' t believe I was stupid enough to listen to them!!! To this day, my son FREAKS w/ any type of pill...and he's 13 now.
I was an idiot for listening!!!

[Belinda]

Yes there are certain benefits for having your children diagnosed with ADHD or ADD, it is a 504 or some can qualify for special ed!!!! ridiculous as it sounds (there are benefits to these but also disadvantages). The poor kids though don't want that label and I am currently in the process of sending a child diagnosed with it to an alternative school. Yes the student is really a behavior problem and by no means do I see it related to ADHD but to pure spite and disregard for others.

[Eri's mom]

My son didn't get the 504....but Eri has it. Yes, it does seem weird w/ the benefits they get, but, I have yet to see them actually apply any of the advantages for her. I said something, when I received her FCAT scores(she freaks w/ tests)...so her sugars were all SKY high every morning and when she came home from school. I KNOW that affected her testing.

[Batty]

the nurse whose part of the Diabetic Team at the local hospital, who I have been seeing every 6months since I was diagnosed 11years ago..told me a year ago that when I do plan on having a child that I should talk to my doctor first..because my blood sugars have to be compleletly undercontrol, for there to be less chances of anything going wrong...

[jazzy1]

I don't think I had too hard of a pregnancy (but since that was my only so far, I really have nothing else to compare it to). I was always in the DR.s office. I think for the first 4 months, I went in once a month. From the 4th to the 7th month, my appointments were by-weekly, from the 7th to the time I delivered, I was there once a week!! Delivery was tough...27 hours! They finally decided on a C-section because it was becoming too hard on my son.

[soremom]

My Dr said the same as Shy's, see her first get control then have the baby. Also said it would be best to go on an insulin pump to have better control. It was hard work, at the obs every other week from the beginning and weekly towards the end. He was 4 weeks early because of low amniotic fluid, which I was told happens to alot of diabetics. Because they were keep such a good eye on me, it was caught early and no problems with it.

He is now 3 and full of life. I can't stop him. Also smart as all get out. He also has us all wrapped around his little finger, my other son is 13.

My advice to anyone would be don't take no for an answer, if you are in general good health and listen to your Dr you can have a healthy baby. My first I was not diabetic, gestational came on later, but had lots of problems not related to the gestational. I was considered health going into the pregnancy. You just never know and it is one decision I will never regret.

Kim

[jazzy1]

Hmmm...I wonder if it's been medical tested to prove that diabetic moms have smarter babies? My son is as smart as all get out! He's only in the 2nd grade, and I've been approached twice about moving him up a grade. I chose to leave him where he is...I want him to grow up with his peers. He gets in trouble all the time for talking in class...it's cause he's bored!!! The talented and gifted programs don't start until 3rd grade...so maybe next year he'll be a bit more challenged.

[debaroo]

Hey there i was reading over the posts and i have a father that is type 1 was diagonsed at 14 and i was 12...do you realize the stats are still the same the chances of a type 1 diabetic having a type 1 child is only 5%, i asked my mom jokeinly if she went out and bought lottery tickets LOL....and like shy my endo and nurse said to avoid unplanned pregancies and to have the a1c at around 6 as well