Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy Risks to Baby

Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby

Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - When you are pregnant, your ideal scenario is to not add too much weight, past every milestone without worry, and have a safe and fast delivery that produce a healthy baby. However, when you are suffering from type 1 diabetes, pregnancy may seem impossible ideal is reached. Lisa Pink, a new mother, able to organize her pregnancy along his diabetes to have a healthy baby girl. He summed up his experience: "it's a great deal of work. However, it is also valuable when you are holding a baby healthy and perfectly you! "

Lisa learns that she is suffering from type 1 diabetes when she was 25 years old. He did not think about pregnancy and start families until she reaches age mid-30s. Lisa didn't know there were mothers with type 1 diabetes, but two friends know about women who have been managing their diabetes during pregnancy. Spirit driven, Lisa went to his doctor a year before she and her husband began trying to get pregnant, which is highly recommended. A woman with type 1 diabetes should get healthy blood glucose levels before conception. This is important for the health of the baby during pregnancy but also before conception. National Institutes of Health recommend that a woman with type 1 diabetes have blood glucose levels within the target range of 80 to 110 mg/dl before meals and 100 to 155 mg/dl one to two hours after eating for three to six months prior to becoming pregnant. Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - During pregnancy, blood glucose target range recommended is 60 to 99 mg/dl before meals and 100 to 129 mg/dl one to two hours after eating.

Meet this target range will help reduce the possibility of too much sugar is given to your baby. Too much sugar can cause the fetus to grow too quickly or may harm the development of the early organ. Having a baby is one of Lisa's attention, so he started using the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to make sure the numbers are in the range of the target.  "It helps me keep track of trends and changes and be better prepared for the needs of insulin, " says Lisa. "Mostly, everything goes well. I was able to continue exercising once first-trimester nausea subsided, and my weight did not increase, only about 20 to 25 pounds, which is nice. One of the concerns is that baby going to be too big, but he is already quite large in size and weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, at birth. "

Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy Risks to Baby

It is important to ask your doctor about goal setting in the range accordingly. Eating healthy and exercising enough can also help you manage your blood glucose levels and decrease your needs insulin. And found the obstetrician who is sensitive to the needs of monitoring and a woman with type 1 diabetes is very important. Lisa felt she need extra reassurance that everything goes well and that concerns about the effects of high blood sugar on the fetus are considered.  "So I got an extra test, " said. "I did a DNA test conducted in harmony around 16 weeks to test the possibility of chromosome abnormalities, the tests for nerve tube defect spina bifida and, and fetal ECG to check for abnormalities of the heart. Obviously, each test adds stress on the possibility there is something wrong with the baby, but everything turned out fine. In addition, fetal monitoring my condition requires once a week after 30 weeks and it increased to twice a week after 36 weeks. It was in one of the fetal monitoring session in which they saw the baby's movements are not optimal and high blood pressure I made I went into the hospital to give birth early. "

Premature labor is one of the major problems for women with type 1 diabetes. Pregnant and suffering from type 1 diabetes means you have to be more vigilant. Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - All pregnancy may experience complications type 1 but makes you more susceptible to specific problems such as preeclampsia, which is gestational of hypertension or high blood pressure. In General, women with type 1 are vulnerable to this because they often have high blood pressure before pregnancy. Many pregnant women with type 1 diabetes are also concerned about the development of insulin resistance. During pregnancy, the placenta gives nutrition and fetal water. The placenta also makes a variety of hormones to help you remain pregnant. In early pregnancy, the hormone can cause increased secretion of insulin and the decrease in the production of glucose by the liver, which can cause hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. In the next pregnancy, hormones such as estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen can have a blocking effect on insulin, a condition called insulin resistance. When the placenta gets larger, more of this hormone is made, and insulin resistance becomes larger.

Women with type 1 diabetes have a lot to consider when trying to get pregnant as well as during pregnancy and childbirth. Things that are unexpected can happen during labor, and have a birth plan can help. Lisa learned a few important steps during labor when unexpected things happen to him. It began when the doctor's Office was acquired by other hospitals so that the endocrinologists cannot see him in the hospital. She had to give birth at a hospital affiliated with the doctor its content. Fortunately, endocrinologists hospitals can help ensure their blood sugar under control during and after childbirth. When Lisa figures rise during labor, she realizes she has no specific plan to control blood sugar while he was in hospital or plan setting the pump. So it's all done quickly along with the doctor who he had never met. Fortunately, a new doctor to communicate with its regular doctor during this time to keep him updated and help get Lisa settings immediately after giving birth.  "As type 1 diabetics aged 35 years, my birth plan really is what needs to be done to keep me and baby stay healthy, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes for it, " says Lisa. "Any plans I might have been out the door when my blood pressure was high and I had to give birth to 12 days before my due date. Preeclampsia is a risk for diabetics, so I have to be aware of it during pregnancy. My blood pressure climbing towards the end, but it's not really an issue until week 38 was. I feel good for most of the pregnancy, but really started to feel sluggish during the last two months,

After his delivery early but managed and delivered, Lisa, challenges new: if he could suckle her beautiful?  "Right! I was informed that it would not be an issue. They test blood sugar babies as part of a test of post delivery standards, and I think diabetes need not increase the chances that much, and there are no flaws or problems with my BREAST MILK even though I suffered from diabetes. I am having trouble tying it, but we sure try and I can breastfeed a few moments, but most are pumping milk for her, especially when I get back to work. Regardless of my condition, breast-feeding was difficult, and your baby needs to eat, so don't be afraid to ask for and give your baby formula milk if necessary, although there is a lot of pressure feeding. The soundness of your infant is the most vital thing. Our baby is not getting enough food and is, therefore, experiencing jaundice and bilirubin levels have higher because he is not eating and therefore not removing waste. Even though we were in the Hospital four days post delivery, due to my high blood pressure treatment ... we have to go back to the hospital two days later for her to get light therapy treatments for diseases of the yellow. Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - This is not necessarily related to my diabetes, but it is still a problem that I didn't realize. "

When asked if he had any advice for other women with type 1 diabetes who are considering having children, Lisa stated,  "the main thing, as do all the care of diabetes, is you have to have your team-endocrinologist, expert nutrition, diabetes educator, if necessary, and the obstetrician. They all have to work together and communicate to ensure you keep yourself and that number you are on track. This is a great addition to all of the other pregnancy milestones to worry about by other women because you have to be in the best possible condition before getting pregnant. It's a lot of work, and my husband is also a big part of that team to make sure I was on the right track and keep all your appointments as well as taking my vitamins, etc. It certainly takes a lot of people. "

The suggestion to lower the risk of pregnancy complications

1. Keep your blood glucose levels within the range
The most important things you can do as a prospective mother type 1 is to try and get your blood glucose levels within a healthy range. Check your numbers and often check. This will reduce the chances of excessive sugar given to your baby. Sugar overload for your baby can cause it to grow quickly as if "fed excessive" (Macrosomia) or may harm the development of early organ (fully developed in week seven).

This is not only important for the health of your baby during pregnancy but also before conception. The doctor recommends your blood glucose levels in the range of three to six months before You get pregnant.

Target blood glucose range pre-pregnancy (NIH)-

  • 80-110 mg/dl before meals
  • 100-155 mg/dl 1-2 hours after eating

Target blood glucose range during pregnancy (NIH)-

  • 60-99 mg/dl before meals
  • 100-129 mg/dl 1-2 hours after eating


Be sure to set goals with your doctor in advance so you know what range that is appropriate for you. Also, if you are not yet using CGM and pumping, talk with your doctor about the possibility of using these devices because they can help in monitoring and controlling Your BGL. Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - Remember that a healthy diet that had been planned earlier can also help you resolve BGL because you can anticipate how you will respond to the food you consume. Exercise can also reduce the need for insulin, helps you stay healthy for your baby while it naturally lowers your blood sugar. (Make sure to always consult with a physician before altering your lifestyle.)


2. Find a doctor and often visit him
You should be more often to monitor your baby's health and wellness, so align yourself with a doctor that you trust and who ideally has experience with mothers who have type 1. If you are planning a pregnancy, you should undergo an examination of pre-pregnancy include the following:


  • A1C test (score your target should be less than 7%)
  • Blood pressure examination (a woman with type 1 tend to have higher blood pressure; the higher blood pressure can cause preeclampsia)
  • Evaluation of health for the heart, kidneys, nervous system, thyroid, and eyes (if you have an organ, gland or system fibers that are not healthy, you risk damaging further the specific areas, so maybe suggested to improve the health before pregnant))
  • Take a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid – if you can drink one month before conception. This can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.


Risks to be aware of ...


  • Preeclampsia (gestational hypertension or high blood pressure with protein in the urine sometimes)-women with type 1 tend to experience this because they often have higher blood pressure.
  • Develop insulin resistance during pregnancy, the placenta is supplying a growing fetus with nutrients and water. The placenta likewise makes an assortment of hormones to keep up the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, the hormone can cause increased secretion of insulin and a decrease in the glucose produced by the liver, which can cause hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels). In the next pregnancy, some of the hormonal (estrogen, cortisol, and lactogen of the human placenta) can have a blocking effect on insulin, a condition called insulin resistance. When the placenta grows, more of these hormones are produced, and insulin resistance becomes larger.
  • Worsening of diabetes complications-if you get pregnant while organ, gland or certain nervous system is not healthy, it can deteriorate under the diabetes management and increasing difficulty keeping your blood glucose levels.
  • The difficulties of childbirth – this is often due to the size of the bigger baby, sometimes need a cesarean or a birth early inducement. Larger babies can also undergo the risk of shoulder dystocia in which the anterior shoulder of the infant failed to pass the symphysis pubis or failed to pass without manipulation.
  • Premature birth-because of the size of the baby.
  • Miscarriage (the loss of a baby before 20 weeks, or stillbirth, which means the baby died in the womb after 20 weeks)-this may be caused by birth defects caused by excessive sugar in the blood.
  • Macrosomia (larger than normal baby)
  • Birth defects (problems that arise during the development of the pregnancy the baby)-mostly caused by blood sugar levels that are not in the range's safe "" is healthy and may include: respiratory disorders syndrome [RDS], cardiovascular heart problems and other problems in the baby. brain, spine, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, limbs, and mouth.
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar at birth, though this should not take place a few days after birth)

Remember that you are not alone and others have gone before you. Know the risks and have previous plans to combat the risk of it is smart and ... maternal. And know that every pregnancy is unique so your experience may be different from others. Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy risks to baby - Even pregnancy sequence You can vary (and quite often do) than the first. Consult with professionals, find a friend to talk to who is also the mother of type 1 and continue to monitor Your BGL. And remember, try to remember to breathe, too.
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