Type 1 pregnancy

[fun1]

My husband and I are thinking about having another baby.  I have been a type 1 since age 12 and am now 27.  I had my daughter at age 23, and also went on the pump, and was extremely lucky because she was healthy although unplanned.  I am working towards tighter control over the next several months to get my A1c down to >7.  Right now I have been running a high A1c at about 9, so i  have a ways to go.   I had a c-section with my first and have recently read that multiple c-sections can cause longterm harm to surrounding organs on any mom.  So as a type 1 is there extra risks in multiple c-sections?  Is a second pregnancy going to pose a threat to health that would make adoption a better option for us?  All of my doctors ( endocrin, OB, optomitrist) seem reluctant to talk about it.

[Gin5]

I have had diabetes since i was 15, and now im 22 and im 8 weeks pregnant. I have been on the pump for 5 years and I have never felt so much better. My A1c is at a 6.9, but that was 3 months ago, next month from the way i have been having it controlled its between a 5 to a 6.5. But there are days when im not going to feel good and my blood will be around the 270's if that happens to you take a shot right away. What i have learned for myself is that I cant really eat out, because thats the only time when it goes high. If you exercise on the treadmil for 20 min a day you will reduce your risk of complications. Some people say that diabetics cant have babies, and that pisses me off more then ever. All you have to do is take care of yourself. Diabetics have healthy babies every day. Good look to the ones pregnant, or trying to get pregnant.

[dorothyrn]

Hello!  I have had type 1 since age 3, now I'm 26.  Just last month I had a miscarriage, and it wasn't planned.  Unfortunately, my a1c was at the highest I have ever had in my life (8.9).  I fought hard after I found out and in 3 weeks managed to get it down to a 7.5.  I'm going to try again because I know it will be lower than that next time.  Just try to get the very best control and keep it that way.  I know it is hard and a constant fight.  I also have the pump and so it takes time to get use to it.  Just keep trying to control and I wish you luck in your endeaver for another child.

[mommyof8]

I have type 1 since age 11 and am now 34.  I started having kids when I was 26years old. I have had 8 pregnacys. 6 children born , 2 misscarages.  my last one was a uterine rupture at 24 weeks.  I reccommend making sure you space your kids at least 2.5 years a part.  I keep an a1c level of 5.8 to 6.5 during pregnacy. and always seem to get pregnant as soon as I get to about 6.5.  My children are all healthy except for the #6 died of premature complications after 28 days. but he was very healthy until the doctors missed a diagnosis. but anyways.  I have had all my children c section with a lower transverse abdominal cut.  With good strick control of the blood sugars you should do fine.  I delivered mine at 38 weeks, 37, 36, 32, 35,24 weeks gestation. the weights were 8.5, 7.13, 7.05, 4.6, 7.12, 1.9 pounds respectivly. I wish you luck.

Mommy of 8

[JDRF-Team-sgg]

Most doctors advise their patients to have absolute optimum diabetic control before getting pregnant. This is not only to protect the mother, but seems to be aimed at protecting the baby, too, for diabetic moms are more likely to have babies with defects when the glucose levels are high during the first few formative months of pregnancy. And diabetic moms are more likely to lose their babies in the last trimester also, when glucose levels are running too high.

Your doctors are probably reluctant to talk about the risks because your a1c levels indicate that you are not in great control right now. Obviously, a second C-section would seem to be a fairly likely scenario. A type 1 diabetic patient whose glucose levels are high may be more susceptible to problems healing from any surgery and of course high glucose levels make fighting off infection more of a danger.

Most doctors nowadays counsel their patients to achieve tight control for months before considering getting pregnant, so that the patient is in optimum health and the chances of delivering a healthy baby are also the greatest. Even though the magic a1c number of less than 7 has been the number used as the goal for diabetics for many years, nowadays I am hearing from many diabetics who are able to keep their a1c levels down around 6 (or even the upper 5's) without risking constant hypoglycemia. So I would encourage you to work at tightening up your control first, and then to KEEP that tight control, for this is something that needs to happen to keep you healthy, no matter whether you have one child or a dozen.

Once you achieve this, your doctors may be more likely to be comfortable discussing the pros and cons of pregancy with you. I, too, was diagnosed at age 12, and now I am 48, with two grown kids. I understand your desire to have a second child to be a companion to your first. But the most important thing of all is for you to remain healthy so you can live without complications as a mother... so this tight control needs to be something that happens FOR YOU, and not just for the duration of a pregnancy. The desire to see my children grown was the incentive I needed at your age to completely revamp my attitude towards diabetes and to start what is now a lifetime of good health. I wish you the best. The real key is to test that glucose often and adjust as necessary.