Pumping and pregnancy

[MarieD]

Having recently discovered I'm about 8 weeks pregnant I am delighted but nervous. :) :( I've been told that being on the pump will make it easier for me to maintain good readings throughout my pregnancy, but that it will also be a lot of hard work.
Are there any pumping mummys out there with any advice/tips ?? and something that I've been wondering - can you use only certain cannulas when pregnant?

HbA1c
Jan 08 - 7.6
March 08 - 6.9 :)
June 08 - 6.6 :)
September 08 - 6.1 :D
November 08 - 5.9 :D :D

[Caravaggio]

I can't answer your questions but I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS! :congrats: :smile:

[Keezheekoni]

Hi there! We're at about the same place right now. Congratulations!!!

I'm on the pump. My OB appt. was yesterday and my OB doesn't know much about the pump. She was quite surprised to hear that I'm "allowed" to change my rates on my own. I was a little put off by the whole appt. to be honest, she was the OB I used with my last pregnancy and though nothing has changed except my use of a pump and I'm 35, she's suddenly decided that she doesn't know if she wants to be my doctor and is sending me to a perinatologist. Sorry, just a bit of venting from a person planning on a homebirth...

Anyhow, there's nothing wrong with pumping while pregnant. It's actually very useful as you can change your rates during the first and third trimesters, when your bgs go sky high and during the second they go back to normal.

You can use any cannula, though if you're really tiny and use the needle sets, don't put them on your abdomen after you start growing the pump. :)

Lastly, get a can of cocoa butter. After taking out the cannula, rub the cocoa butter on the site. It'll help reduce any possible scar left behind. I recommend cocoa butter for avoiding stretch marks too, have your partner rub it all over your belly starting tonight! (I didn't do this during any of my previous pregnancies and I doubt I have any real skin left on my belly, it's all stretch marks. :( )

[MarieD]

Congratulations to you too ! :)
Thanks for the advice. I'll definately be getting some cocoa butter :)
My OB knows little about the pump too - I'm their first patient to have one so up to know I'm the pump 'expert'. She has said she is looking into getting some information on the pump and pregnancy and will learn as we go along!

[Taytesmommy]

Congrats to you both! I am 20 weeks along with our 3rd baby. I am a Type 1 who has been pumping for almost 6 years. I have done 1 pregnancy not on the pump (very challenging but still attainable) and 2 on the pump. I will be very honest in that it is way easier to be on the pump and pregnant that doing regular injections. As the last member mentioned you have such fexibility in adjusting your basal rates and carb ratios all through the pregnancy. It also will give your OB a real gage as to how well your placenta is functioning as if you are requiring more insulin than that means your placenta is doing well. My rule of thumb, and it seems to work during pregnancy especially, is if you notice the same pattern 2 times in a row, meaning elevated or lowered BG's at the same time of day for 2 days in a row than I change it for day 3. My A1c's during all of my pregnancy's have been excellent, ranging from 5.0-5.6, and I test about 15times a day. I know it sounds crazy but it is for the health of the baby and to give him/her the best chance at breaking all the stereotypes of babies from Diabetic Moms. I am also wearing the Continuous glucose Sensor for this pregnancy which has been a real blessing and a huge help to keeping that amazingly tight control. It will seem hard a first but you get into a routine that works to give you tight control. I have used the same 3 doctors (OB, Endo and Perinatologist) for all 3 pregnancies and they have all been super supportive and allowed me to make my own decisions with insulin dosages etc. Beinga pregnant , Diabetic Mom adds some challenges but the pump makes it seem so minimal. You will be glad you are on it even after for when you nurse your baby too!!

[patricia52]

Congratulation Mommies. My Daughter-In-Law is a T1 on the pump. She had no problems with her pump. Just before she went into the operating room they had her to remove her pump. She reinserted it when she came out of surgery. The staff told her she was to monitor her diabetes because no one knew anything about the pump. She was very happy with that because she understood her body better than they did. By the way--baby is fine and now 2 years old.

[dalfandre]

I am also newly pregnant but have been on the pump for a while and the pump makes everything easier. If my BS is 160, the pump will let me take tenths of a unit to bring it down. I never would have been able to do that with a needle! You can sit at the dinner table and give yourself insulin and no one knows what you're doing. Most people think it's a pager. My last A1c was a 5.6. I thank the pump and exercise. Don't worry, you'll love it.

[MarieD]

Well we're 15 weeks now and so far so good!! Just had my latest HbA1c result and I'm pleased to say it's come down some more to 5.5 :)
Spoke to my Pump rep the other day and it's ok to continue to use my current type of cannnula which I'm pleased about, although she said as time goes on it may become a little uncomfortable in my abdomen and I might want to change to using my thighs. Has any one out there been able to continue to use their abdomen right to the end of pregnancy?

[rolalove]

Hi my name is rola and i have diabetes. I recently got pregnant and am so scared and worried too. i want to go on pump and i need help on how it will work for me. Thanks

[Taytesmommy]

I have had 2 children, and the third is on the way, 27 weeks now, and I have used my quickset canula for all of them, right up to the end of the pregnancy. I have never had any problems at all with them. You have to remember that they are sub-cu so there is still alot of layers left, even when your belly is as big as anything. I am a fairly lean person, I was steared away from using the quickset-even outside of pregnancy due to the fact, but I didn't like the way the silouette was inserted..it freaked me out. I can honestly say that it's just been my personal experience but stick with ones that you feel most comfortable with, unless you start having bent canula's etc. I also wera the sensor, which is a very long canula and it has to go into very lean areas, on the belly, and I haven't had any problems with that either. Good luck!

[dalfandre]

I was wondering about the pump until the end too! I can switch to my thigh, but I much prefer my abdomen.
To those of you who have done this before, can you tell me what happens in the second trimester? I'm at 13 weeks right now and my blood sugars seem to have dropped quite a bit, is this normal?
Thanks so much.

[Keezheekoni]

Numbers evening out in the 2nd tri is quite normal. Mine went back to normal around 11 weeks. I put my sets in my abdomen or my hips, you can certainly use your thighs, I just don't prefer those sites. :)

[dalfandre]

Thanks and congrats on #6