Unplanned Pregnancy

[hollyc]

I just found out that I am pregnant and I am really worried that something will go wrong. I have been struggling with control for a few years now( Type 1 for 19 years, since age 7). My A1c was 11, and in three months I got it down to 9. I haven't had it rechecked yet, this was only 2 months ago, but my monitor says my average blood sugars in the last 30 days run at 200. That would put me at about an 8. Has anyone had a healthy pregnancy that didn't start out with perfect control? I eat pretty healthy (vegetarian for 18 years), I'm young (26), but my lack of control is due primarily to stress and I don't handle stress well. Is there any good news out there? I'm afraid to feel happy about being pregnant because I hear so many bad endings.

[Lyrehca]

Hi,

Are you meeting with/faxing your blood sugar logs to your endocrinologist every week or so? Are you on an insulin pump? What kind of medical care for your diabetes are you getting while you are pregnant?

I ask because even with stress and the hormones of pregnancy, a pump and some expert guidance can help you rein in your sugars even more.

I am writing a book about pre-existing pregnancy and diabetes, and blogged about my pregnancy, and the research shows that the risks are higher (though not guaranteed) when your A1c is 6.9 or above. See this summary: Peri-Conceptional A1C and Risk of Serious Adverse Pregnancy Outcome in 933 Women With Type 1 Diabetes ? Diabetes Care (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/6/1046.abstract)

Have you had fetal monitoring and prenatal tests like the nuchal translucency test, to show if your baby is developing at a normal rate?

--Lyrehca / Cheryl

coming in 2010: "Balancing Pregnancy With Preexisting Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby" (Demos Medical Publishing)
book link: Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby - Demos Medical Publishing (http://www.demosmedpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=9781932603323)

and blogging at Managing the Sweetness Within
Managing the Sweetness Within (http://www.thesweetnesswithin.blogspot.com)

[belyro]

Hi Holly,

I had my first baby in May. I posted a link to my pregnancy blog here: http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/type-1-diabetes-pregnancy/44747-my-blog-type-1-a.html

I definitely wouldn't consider my numbers to have been perfect either before or during the pregnancy, but they were significantly lower than the numbers you're talking about too...so I'm not sure if my experience is what you're looking for or not.

Stress was an issue for me too, and I have to admit that pregnancy and babies are not a recipe for less stress. ;) I see a fantastic counsellor, and I have had great success through my visits with her. I highly HIGHLY recommend seeing a counsellor/therapist if stress is an issue for you, because you'll want to be as healthy as possible (physically and mentally) for the sake of your baby. Those little ones can really pick up on, and be affected by, the stress of their mothers. Focus on making self-care a priority! It's worth it!

Good luck!

[inkvisitor]

Can you tell us more about your regimen (types of insulin, how much, when, and how often you test your BG)?

For those that are sensitive to choice issues, stop reading now.

I assume that you plan on going through with the pregnancy regardless?

[cynthiazinn]

I had two sucessful outcomes and I was a mess to start with. I find that the extra care you get as a prego diabetic really will get you in better control. Getting excited will actually help you. It makes it so much easier when you know you are doing it for someone else!

[Belle'sMama]

Holly, we are in the same boat now! I just got a BFP this morning and all I can think about is how high my bs has been for the past seven days! I can't remember for the life of me what my BS were the week I found out I was pg with my daughter, who is now 2 and a half, I blame that on mommy brain. I'm on a minimed paradigm pump and have been for over 4 yrs now but have only been on the sensor for 3 wks. Everything was pretty stable and looked great so me and hubby decided to go ahead and try this month, then last weekend my BS spiked and I'm just now, in the past 2 or 3 days have been able to get it down, actually had a pretty bad low last night. I am racked with worry and guilt already!

[e||ement]

i just got a BFP two days ago! it was planned...but we were still surprised (after getting BFN for almost a year).

Belle'sMAma...I too have been having spiky spikes the past two weeks (as well as high FBS) which concerns me. So as of yesterday I'm trying to be a little more aggressive with corrections.

But yes. Nervewracking, or what!

Holly: you know what? You can't change the past, so just work on getting tighter control in the next several months!

Good luck everyone ;-)

[Belle'sMama]

Holly: forgot to say congratulations!!!!
Congrats to you as well Ellement!!!

Well, with my first we tried for a while and I had a few chemical pregnancies and a miscarriage. The only thing different that we did medically when I got pg with my daughter was that I immediatly started taking a baby aspirin and progesterone cream. But back then I was seeing a RE, not now. I am thinking that since today is Fri I might try and get a beta done on Monday.

[sarahspins]

I was diagnosed early in my second tri with my first :)

He is fine.. despite the fact that I was running BG's in the 400's and 500's for who knows how long.