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If you have experienced pregnancy with T1D, did you make a plan for managing T1D and pregnancy with your healthcare provider before getting pregnant?
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I had 2 pregnancies in the 1980’s, but due to living in a small town in NM, there were few specialists available. Both pregnancies were surprises, but I was in the care of obstetricians both deliveries. I was managing my T1D myself, but we were fortunate to have no complications except for the predictable neonatal hyperglycemia. I realize that I was dependent on the skill of the OB’s. God blessed us with 2 healthy children, now adults.
Other than her stressing keeping my sugars under control we didn’t make any changes. I stayed pretty normal. I craved healthier things which was good. I had a terrible low during my pregnancy but all was well. I suppose the plan was that should my sugars trend high or are low we would adjust my insulin but that never happened.
I am male, so obviously no. However, my daughter, who is also T1D did plan for managing her two successful pregnancies.
I got pregnant while on a mountain climbing trip to the Andes in 1975. I hadn’t planned it, bit it was a happy surprise. I was 25 and had had Td for 13 years already. Once I knew, I went to Kaiser every week for labwork and was really strict about my care. (First time in my life, really. Responsability for another life and all. Against all odds, we got a perfect 9 pound baby boy. The most amazing thing I’ve ever done.
My pregnancy was in 1971. I lived in a small town and had a heck of a time even finding a doctor in the only larger town nearby who would be willing to take me when I got pregnant due to the high risk they thought I faced. I found one that told me to get my insulin requirements down as low as I could before getting pregnant since it would go way up with the latter stage of pregnancy. He was correct in that assumption. No problems whatsoever with the pregnancy.
I am male
Personally, I haven’t experienced pregnancy with T1D as I’m male, but my wife carried two beautiful sons for us since I was diagnosed with Type 1.
No plan. It was 51 years and 56 years ago. No technology then. Had 2 healthy babies by the grace of God.
I talked to my doctor when we were thinking about it and she indicated it would be a high-risk pregnancy but manageable. I got a little spooked by the movie Steele Magnolia’s so we determined not to have a baby. My husband said he’d rather keep me healthy then gamble with it for a child.
T1D since 1970 at age 12 and was always encouraged to not get pregnant. As every thing else I wasn’t supposed to do, I did it! 1982 and 1985 I had successful pregnancies and healthy beautiful babies. But the nine months were stress filled. I had lab work twice monthly that included 24 hour urine collections to track for protein. My daughter and my son were both delivered by C-section a week prior to my due date following an amniocentesis to confirm proper lung development. Our plan to not have baby experience harmful weight gain in last couple of weeks proved successful with my daughter weighing 5’15” and my son 7’14”. Neither have ever experienced any signs of T1D. I am so thankful for our plan!
When I first asked my endo about birth control, I was advised to get my tubes tied. I didn’t bring the subject up again. A few years later,I was delighted to find myself pregnant. Both my (new) endo and obgyn asked if I were happy about this turn of events. When I said emphatically yes, each said something along the lines of “well, we know what to do!). So, I had a healthy baby boy in 1988. I had enjoyed a tremendous sense of well-being throughout the experience.
There weren’t that many plans available in 1969 when we met with my doctor, an Internist, to discuss the possibility of a successful pregnancy. He suggested we not delay since I was was in fairly good health and in my early twenties. Several months later it was confirmed that I was pregnant. I started seeing an OB who had an interest in high-risk pregnancies. All he asked of me was to keep a logbook of my urine test results and continue to eat fresh food. I started experiencing blood pressure issues by the end of the sixth month ending in a c-section delivery 6 weeks early. Our 6 lbs 15.5oz preemie daughter came home with us three days later.
I spent the year prior to getting pregnant tightening my control to pregnancy target/time in range goals. My baby and I stayed healthy throughout 🙂 it wasn’t always easy, but it was totally worth it! And, I had an excellent healthcare team – could not have done it without them!
I had three healthy daughters in the 1990’s. I was followed by a good team of doctors. They were all large babies at birth. Knock on wood, none have shown signs of developing diabetes themselves.
Had a pre-conception consult with an MFM to discuss what steps I needed to take before getting pregnant. She recommended A1c <6% and extra folic acid supplementation. Once I became pregnant, I sent my BG every week for adjustments, in addition to more frequent appointments, US, and NST twice weekly for the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. I was really lucky to have an MFM who did not induce early "just because" I have T1 – she was comfortable letting my body go into labor naturally since my A1c was well-controlled (<5.5%) and NST looked good. I could not have done it without my excellent care team, but I also acknowledge it was super challenging! I am proud of my two children and myself, and look forward to more babies in the future. So grateful for modern medicine, I can't even imagine what you ladies went through decades ago!!
I was basically told I was not allowed to get pregnant because it was too dangerous for me and any potential children. I took the doctors at their word. After the “you can’t have children” came, “how are you going to avoid pregnancy?”
So, no children for me.
I *made* a plan – get my A1C under 7%. Didn’t stick to it though. Turned up pregnant two months later. My endo asked, “How did THAT happen?” I nearly fell of the table laughing. “Well, doc, when a man and a woman love each other VERY much…”
She took my A1C that day and it was 7.1%. Since then I have gone on a pump and am using a CGM. My most recent A1C (about six months ago) was 5.4%. I’m gonna stick with that.
It would be unusual for a man
I’m happy to read about so many successful pregnancies. Back in the 1950’s a doctor angrily told a T1D cousin her pregnancy would “blow her blood sugars to hell.” Back then urine tests were the norm. Sure enough, she miscarried. So she and her partner adopted. 🙂 It’s really encouraging to read how far we’ve come…at least in the high income countries.
I never make major life decisions affecting my health without thoroughly discussing it with my endo.