question...

nicole · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:05 PM

I have a question for anyone willing to answer it.
I've had diabetes since 1999 and haven't had really good control of it. My question is when I'm ready to have a baby am I going to be able to????

Thats a question that has been bothering me for a while now. I mean I'm not trying to have a baby now, but in the future I want to.

I don't know why that bothers me so much right now, but it does and I'm scared I won't be able to

.

parrotletzoo · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:08 PM

Plenty of women that are type 1 have healthy babies. The important thing is tight control in the months prior to conception and during pregnancy.

xMenace · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 08:12 PM

It's not so much the ability to conceive but the ability to bear a child safely for you and it. Get the sugars down.

nicole · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 10:53 PM

thank you.
That was really bothering me lately.

Scratch · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 08:18 AM

I'd suggest that the sooner you begin working on achieving good control the better off you will be when it comes time and you want to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. It's like when you were in school, you probably did better on tests when you had consistently studied for the subject over trying to cram in all the information at the last minute.

Evermont · #6 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole

...I've had diabetes since 1999 and haven't had really good control of it. My question is when I'm ready to have a baby am I going to be able to????...

When would right now be a good time to get good control?

Taking good care of Nicole is excellent practice for taking good care of Nicole's baby. Consequences of poor control may be far off for you, but they will come if you don't develop good habits and when they do, it will be too soon for you and everyone who cares about you. Especially your children. They will want you to be as healthy as possible and not just during pregnancy.

Just decide to do it now. Maintain good control. Commit to it.

If you're going to be scared of anything, let it be whatever is keeping you from doing the right thing. I think it best to vanquish all fears myself - they are not our friends.

buddy7 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:33 PM

Hi -- nicole !!

Never had a baby my-self, probably not the best person to give you the answers you're looking for, however, if this is any comfort to you whatsoever, people around the world, with T1 diabetes, been having babies, for some time now, with no reported tragic circumstances, that I've heard of, so when you are ready, do have your baby, take advantage of this wonderful gift, God have given you, to give life, a small down side to all this, one of your off-springs, will probably have the trait.

Came from large family my-self, with a great history of T1&T2 diabetes, they all had children with no complications, bearing in mind, at that time, they were very little research done about the disease, so don't worry about a thing, there's a wealth of knowledge out there amongst the medical physicians of the western world.

Research been going on for sometime now, around the world, to help the sufferers of this awful disease, with the regimental lives we live, to control this disease, some of us have become experts in successfully controlling the disease, so please don't worry too much, I do apologize for going on about it this long, there's light at the end of the tunnel, have a peek at the link below.

ITN - Transplant hope for diabetes sufferers

All the best, B/7 ESSEX UK.

1

KCP · #8 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 02:06 PM

I am a T1 diabetic who also wants to have a baby, thought i want to do it now. I have been working on my diabetes for the last two years now and have just been given the go ahead by my doctors.

If you decide to have a baby it is advised that you plan it and get the sugars down there is no reason why you cant have a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy

catgalla · #9 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 04:28 AM

I was in your shoes not too long ago and I was afraid of the same exact thing. Yes you can. I have 2 beautiful children. I must caution though, keep in tight control. I had 7 miscarriages as well and they thought it was due to the diabetes even under good control. I'm not sure if they knew for absolute certainty that was the cause.

Jan B · #10 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:31 AM

The subject of having children always brings up a lot of conflicting thoughts in me. I try to keep quiet, then I wonder if I am doing an injustice to the TRUTH! Once I was tagged "snakebit", so there you go.

My baby had congenital heart defects; lived through a major heart surgery and a minor surgery. At 5 1/2 months old, the doctor said he's looking good and didn't need to see us for 3 months. Joshua died 3 days later (ventricular fibrillation).

I was 23 when I got pregnant. It was a very, very stressful time and I did not prepare for having a child. My birth control failed, I was married, my husband wanted me to have an abortion (he had 2 kids from a previous marriage and didn't want more), and I could not abort my baby. My little brother was adopted, and that was the road I had planned to go down.

When so many people chime in about how you can have a healthy baby, sure that's true. But my story is true too.

Alice · #11 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 10:55 AM

Jan, that' so true and my heart goes out to you...for everyone, not just diabetics. Everyone dreams of the little bundle of joy...but heartbreak can happen every hundred or so babies...probably more frequently.

Modern medicine takes care of most newborn needs...from tiny heart problems to plastic surgery...most parents are able to deal with it...

But, many deal with long-term complications such as MD, Downs, and such...even diabetes.

The important thing to remember is that there is a bigger "picture" than just diabetics having babies. Healthy pregnancies still happen more...the odds just swing both ways.

I think the heartbreak that Jan feels is so true with so many people...diabetes isn't always the cause.

Getting your diabetes in control is the best thing you can do for your baby. I asked a similar question years ago and was told by my gyno (high risk ob/gyn) that she had delivered so many healthy babies in low-income/poor health neighborhoods to diabetics that she felt someone in good control really had a pretty good chance of a happy deliver. That gave me a different way of looking at my own care...we usually aren't as "out of control" as we think...we just strive a little harder on this list, I believe.

Jan B · #12 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

Jan, that' so true and my heart goes out to you...for everyone, not just diabetics. Everyone dreams of the little bundle of joy...but heartbreak can happen every hundred or so babies...probably more frequently.

Modern medicine takes care of most newborn needs...from tiny heart problems to plastic surgery...most parents are able to deal with it...

But, many deal with long-term complications such as MD, Downs, and such...even diabetes.

The important thing to remember is that there is a bigger "picture" than just diabetics having babies. Healthy pregnancies still happen more...the odds just swing both ways.

I think the heartbreak that Jan feels is so true with so many people...diabetes isn't always the cause.

Getting your diabetes in control is the best thing you can do for your baby. I asked a similar question years ago and was told by my gyno (high risk ob/gyn) that she had delivered so many healthy babies in low-income/poor health neighborhoods to diabetics that she felt someone in good control really had a pretty good chance of a happy deliver. That gave me a different way of looking at my own care...we usually aren't as "out of control" as we think...we just strive a little harder on this list, I believe.

Alice knows what she's talking about! All of what she said is insightful and true. "Heart babies" as mine was called are born to perfectly healthy people also. I'll never know for sure if diabetes "caused" the defects. The thing that hurt me so bad (then), was that on the transfer papers, the biggest print - bold black letters - stated DIABETIC MOTHER. Don't think for a minute I feel sorry for myself. It's been 23 years. Time changes many things. I'm fine . . . I'm lucky actually, to be so blessed in so many ways.

KCP · #13 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 01:57 PM

*sigh* IM sorry for what you had to go through with your children...
Dont get me wrong, there is not a single moment that I dont think about the consequences of what having diabetes can mean for a child, especailly if born to a diabetic mother with bad control. Anencephaly, heart defect, club foot.. these are just a few of the issues that run through my head when i think about pregnancy and babies..

I dont take my desicion to have children lightly. Im testing triple my normal amount, correcting watching my food intake. Not just for my health, but for my future babies health as well, and I know that this is what it takes to bring the child that my heart tells me i need into this world..
I am lucky in the respect that i have had the support of a high risk maternity team at the hospital working with me to gain control before i even concieve so that it's possible that i could have a healthy child. I am very very lucky. But i know that it may not happen..

lynnlynn · #14 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 04:49 PM

I have been through 2 pregnancies. They were extremely hard work..God knows how many times a day I would check my blood. I became a bit obsessed!! Managed to get an Hba1c of 5.4 and I kept my bloods within the strict limits. That way I knew I had done everything I could to help reduce the risk of complications. I felt worried and anxious throughout both pregnancies about everything and all the risks to the babies! My team at the hospital were great and I had regular check ups and growth scans.
All the hard work paid off and I have 2 healthy boys. (I am now just worried about them getting diabetes!)
They were both about 9lb at birth and born by c/section due to their size. I actually think I would have had big babies anyway whether I had been diabetic or not but hey ho I will never know!
I am interested to hear how you get on and wish you all the best!!

Tracy38 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 04:56 PM

I've had 3 children. Getting good control now is really important. The other thing is to find a good OB/GYN that is a specialist in high risk pregnancies. You'll also need a good support system to keep an eye on you. BG fluctuations during the first trimester are significant, but not insurmountable.