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So you’re diabetic, just found out you’re pregnant… What next?

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Ok so I’m Dani.

Hi.

I found out I was pregnant after a year of trying.

I danced around the kitchen (like a complete wolly I may add) totally in my happy place. We did it!


Now what?

Total disclaimer. I’m not a medical professional at all. I’m hoping my experience can give you a little insight into what you may be about to go through/ what you’re going through.

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My worrisome, crazy, beautiful definitely scary diabetic pregnancy!

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So Welcome. Here we go…

Very first hospital appointment

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Very first hospital appointment.

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We arrived at half 8 and went straight to see the midwife.

•Urine sample

•Blood pressure

•Blood test


She then proceeded to ask questions about my control, previous hba1c results and family history.


I was given a diary along with a few other things and sat outside waiting for the dietitian (1 hour later I went in,) we spoke about carb counting, my diet and then I was told to estimate the amount of carbohydrates by looking at photos of food. She was happy and said she wouldn’t need to see me again.


I was back out waiting to see the consultant. Around an hour or so later I went in. She went through the new diary and the results i had already written down at home, explained a bit about what would be happening over the coming months and asked if I was taking a higher dose of folic acid, if I had a glucagon injection at home and told me I needed to take a low dose of aspirin each day.

I was then taken back into the midwife who sorted the prescriptions and told me to pick them up after my scan.

Yes finally the scan!
I was sent upstairs to the early scan unit. After about 20 minutes we went in, i lay on the bed. We were told because its early we may not see much, but they needed to detect a sac and hopefully a heart beat.

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I wiped the cold gel off my tummy and went to get the prescription off the midwife, here we were told to book back in at reception as we would be visiting every two weeks!

Great, thanks to the fact my pancreas is bone idle I’ll be attending the hospital every two weeks! silver lining.. more scans, more opportunities to see you.

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Feelings: I am still floating on a cloud because I got to see you.

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A call from the midwife

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A call from the midwife.

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Well today I had a phone call from the diabetic midwife asking if I’d recieved my letter? She explained that I’d pretty much be in all day, so asked if I could go in for half eight before the initial appointments get started.

List of what will happen.


•Taking my blood, blood pressure and urine sample
•Going through questions
•Giving me a blood monitor diary
•Seeing a dietitian
•Meeting the diabetic consultant
And finally
Having my very first scan.

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Feelings: Excited, one week until I get to see you. My sugars seem to have a mind of their own at the moment, trying to detect a pattern.

Started having a yoghurt before bed so sugars don’t go low in the night, working for now.

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So close to a slip up.

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Ok ok. So we decide to keep you a secret until our 12 week scan.

Little did I know the hospital have my parents number on record!!!

A voicemail has been left to check I’ll be attending. I tell my Mum I’m switching hospitals for my diabetic appointments. (Let’s see how long until she begins fishing for more info.)

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Feelings: worried. I’m not having pregnancy symptoms. What if you’re no longer in my tummy?

Injecting 2 more units of glargine (long lasting basil insulin)

Changed breakfast ratio. Pre pregnancy was 1:10 (1 until for every 10g carbohydrates) now injecting 1.5:10

Occasionally going low after lunch.

(Note to self a calculator will be needed for meals)

Still reading crazy stories. Reading everything to do with pregnancy actually.

(I will soon become a pregnancy guru, broadening my knowledge every evening!)

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Wondering how people wait until 12 weeks for the first scan. Going stir crazy here waiting for 8!

Please give me patience.

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Stories, stories Horror stories! (5 weeks)

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5 weeks pregnant.. the second week knowing you’re in my tummy!

The letter from the hospital is here (that arrived quick!) Our very first appointment will be… Wednesday 6th December! I’ll be 8 weeks pregnant. Very excited.

It seems so far away! I’ve read we will have an early scan to see how you’re doing.

Googling diabetic pregnancy wasn’t a great idea, I came across so many heart breaking stories (Horror stories.) Struggling to find anything positive. It’s like car crash TV I can’t stop reading!!!

(Please someone, anyone give me a positive story)

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Feelings: I’m feeling good. Needing more insulin after breakfast. Beginning to write blood sugar results down.

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It’s positive!

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It’s positive!

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A positive pregnancy test…

Let the fun begin!

I called the doctors to book an appointment. (What happens next?)

Is it me or does everyone you see seem to say congratulations, now here is a long list of complications that may occur. (Thanks for that heavy burden, like I wasn’t worried enough already.)

During doctors appointment:

Hospital is now informed of my pregnancy.

First appointment booked to see the midwife.

Note to self research pregnancy and diabetes.

My stomach was cramping before having a positive test, almost like a sharp stabbing feeling in my lower tummy, this was more intense than menstral pain. I also had high blood sugar readings especially on the evening.

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Initial feelings: Excited. But jesus am I worried.

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