Wanting to Conceive

[amydivin]

I have had diabetes for about 9 years and have been on an insulin pump for about five of those.  I would not know what to do without the pump, I love it!  My husband and I are anxious to become parents, but I am very nervous about pregnancy having diabetes.  I was wondering if anyone had any advice, especially those who wear pumps...  I have heard about a complication that causes the baby to be born large, has anyone had this complication, and does it go away??  Do most women have to have c-sections at delivery?  My last HA1C was a 8, and I have been working hard to lower it, I think my hardest area is exercise.  Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[JDRF-Team-maw]

amydivin,

I am glad to hear that you are taking the necessary steps and planning that you are already doing in order to have a successful pregnancy.  Years ago the complications were much greater in women with diabetes trying to conceive.  Researchers have made great strides in the past several years.  Even with that in mind, there are still risks involved.  It is very important to get in touch with a doctor who handles high-risk pregnancies just to ensure the best result for you and your baby just as LRS stated.  She gave you some great information to follow.  Just keep working on lowering your a1c and keep a close eye on your diabetes.  As LRS said, do your homework and read all you can.  Please come back and keep us posted.

Thanks.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Hi Amy,
It's great that you're doing pre-pregnancy planning because that will give you the greatest likelihood of success -- for your baby AND you.  It's a good idea to find a obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies and to work with a team who's well-versed in the complications & issues that diabetic moms must wrestle with.

I understand that larger babies can be the result of poor glucose control that ultimately requires the BABY's insulin production to be elevated in order to counteract the MOM's high BGs.  

It's good you're aiming to lower your a1c, since you're creating the environment in which your unborn child will develop.  Many DM women are advised to have VERY tight control in the months prior to conception and to maintain those through out the pregnancy.  In other forums, I've read, for example, that post-meal BGs should not rise above 140.  

Read read read and work toward ensuring you can make the commitment needed to have a successful pregnancy.  There are many diabetic women who've been successful carrying their children to term; there are many miscarriages and complications, however, too.  The odds are much more in our favor when we're in as close to "non-DM" control as humanly possible. I'm also sure you'll get more info from this site, so do check back.