As a Type 1 diabetic, pregnancy can be a very scary time because the outcome can be devastating if not managed appropriately. I found out that I had diabetes after my first pregnancy when I was 30 years old. It was first thought that I had gestational diabetes, so I was being managed with diet and oral medication when I really should have been on insulin all along. During that pregnancy we also found out that our child (a son) had a heart condition called transposition of the great arteries. This condition would require that he have surgery immediately after being born to correct the position of the arteries in his heart. Because of this condition, I was being seen at Children’s National in Washington, D.C. for regular fetal echos. At our 32 week fetal echo, it was discovered that our son had passed away. My biggest fear the entire pregnancy had been realized and along with feeling sad and hopeless, I felt guilty. When you have a condition like diabetes, you are constantly fearful of anything you eat or drink and what it will do to your blood sugars and your unborn child. Austin Patrick was born stillborn on September 8, 2013 at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.
Luckily, my last two pregnancies have had better outcomes. I was started on insulin injections after it was confirmed that I did in fact have type 1 diabetes in 2013. In June of 2015, we found out we were pregnant again, and along with the insulin injections I was started on a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to help with managing my blood sugars. I also had an amazing healthcare provider that helped me in keeping my blood sugars under control.
Before my most recent pregnancy, I was started on an insulin pump along with the CGM. These tools have been life changers and have helped make managing my blood sugars so much easier and given me more peace of mind.
As a result of better blood sugar control and healthcare management during my last 2 pregnancies, we have an amazingly smart and energetic toddler, Savannah, and now a darling newborn son, Elijah. Both are healthy and have no major medical conditions.
As a diabetic, most maternal fetal medicine (MFM) doctors don’t want you delivering past 39 weeks gestation due to the risk of excessive fetal weight gain. I had hoped to give birth vaginally with my daughter back in 2016, so we scheduled an induction at 39 weeks gestation. However, after 48 hours of laboring I was only 4 cm dilated, and Savannah’s heart rate dropped as a result of the pitocin. She was born via emergency c-section on March 14, 2016 and was 20 inches long and weighed 8 lbs 8 oz.
Since I did not have a good outcome with an induction of labor with my daughter, my husband and I decided to have a repeat c-section as a delivery option for our son, Elijah. Things did not go quite as planned with this plan either. At my 38 week appointment with my OBGYN, it was discovered that I had developed pre-eclampsia. The c-section was moved up from November 13 to November 9. This c-section was a lot more relaxed because it was not rushed and not the result of a failed induction. I even got to choose what music I wanted to be listening to during the surgery. Elijah was born while Billy Joel was singing “Innocent Man.” He was 20.5 inches long and weighed 8 lbs 14.5 oz at birth.
