Extremely unsure.

[Crumblebee]

Hello, I am unsure about getting pregnant, I do want to try but the thought is terrifying.
I've only been diagnosed 2 and a half years roughly, but I'm about to turn 38 and the biology clock is screaming at me.
Since I was in my early 20s I got the coil and have had it in since a month ago because it ran out. Discussion with my partner led us to decide on leaving it out and just using good old condoms, and if accident happens then fine.
But I'm worried about my health and effects of my health on the baby growing. I have had B12 anemia and only just getting my strength back.
I could speak to my GP but they're either flippant or just seem to say contradictions, diabetic team is no better.
Honestly the GP told me my symptoms were not related to my B12, so did other tests, tests came back normal, same GP says that actually the symptoms can be from B12 .

Anyway, really just hoping for some advice maybe, at the end of the day I might be unable to get pregnant and then that'll be that, decision made... Time for a dog... Or adopting.

Just really scared and unsure of this decision to put my body through.

Thanks for reading ☺️ x

 

[Inka]

Is it pernicious anaemia you have @Crumblebee ? If I were you, I’d seek advice from a midwife or obstetrician. They’ll have experience of pregnancies with all sorts of ‘extras’ and know the guidelines, eg re B12 injections. There’s also a Pernicious Anaemia online that will have information (you need to join to see the info pages).

If it’s ‘just’ low levels of B12, then I can’t see there’d be an issue if you got them up. You do know you have to take a high dose folic acid for three months prior to conception? That will probably be co-ordinated with any B12 supplement you might need to ensure your levels are balanced.

If it’s the diabetes worrying you, don’t let it. I’ve had three pregnancies with diabetes and I don’t feel they ‘wore out’ my body at all. In fact, I think they made me stronger physically.

 

[SB2015]

Hi @Crumblebee

I know that they are offering the Hybrid Closed Loop systems are to be made available to those with T1 wanting to get pregnant. This system can help with managing your glucose levels and keeping in the tighter range recommended for pregnancy.

From what I have read, the most important thing for a pregnancy with T1 is to plan ahead, so you are already doing that. It is worth talking to your diabetes team. I know that in our area there is specialist helo with this.

Let us know how you get on with your enquiries and keep the questions coming.

 

[Crumblebee]

Is it pernicious anaemia you have @Crumblebee ? If I were you, I’d seek advice from a midwife or obstetrician. They’ll have experience of pregnancies with all sorts of ‘extras’ and know the guidelines, eg re B12 injections. There’s also a Pernicious Anaemia online that will have information (you need to join to see the info pages).

If it’s ‘just’ low levels of B12, then I can’t see there’d be an issue if you got them up. You do know you have to take a high dose folic acid for three months prior to conception? That will probably be co-ordinated with any B12 supplement you might need to ensure your levels are balanced.

If it’s the diabetes worrying you, don’t let it. I’ve had three pregnancies with diabetes and I don’t feel they ‘wore out’ my body at all. In fact, I think they made me stronger physically.

Thanks for replying,
No they tested me for pernicious and it came back negative.
I think I'm just worried as I've had such bad luck health wise the past couple of years, and my sister had such a difficult pregnancy and labour it frightened me. Her baby wasn't planned though, this one is planned. And yes they've prescribed me folic acid last year when I said we were planning on planning to get pregnant.
Thanks again for your reply

 

[Crumblebee]

Hi @Crumblebee

I know that they are offering the Hybrid Closed Loop systems are to be made available to those with T1 wanting to get pregnant. This system can help with managing your glucose levels and keeping in the tighter range recommended for pregnancy.

From what I have read, the most important thing for a pregnancy with T1 is to plan ahead, so you are already doing that. It is worth talking to your diabetes team. I know that in our area there is specialist helo with this.

Let us know how you get on with your enquiries and keep the questions coming.

Hi thanks for your reply, I think I'm just being an absolute worry wort about it, as my health the past couple of years has been so bad and unpredictable.
Your comment has definitely helped, as I'd forgotten about the closed loop things, I'll brave the GP and the diabetes team and try to not get bothered by the contradictory information.
Thanks again

 

[Inka]

Thanks for replying,
No they tested me for pernicious and it came back negative.
I think I'm just worried as I've had such bad luck health wise the past couple of years, and my sister had such a difficult pregnancy and labour it frightened me. Her baby wasn't planned though, this one is planned. And yes they've prescribed me folic acid last year when I said we were planning on planning to get pregnant.
Thanks again for your reply

As someone with diabetes, you’ll get excellent care in pregnancy @Crumblebee I was very impressed. I had a special Pregnancy DSN, a brilliant OB consultant, a brilliant diabetes consultant, a dietician and lovely midwives.

You get lots of extra checks and scans during pregnancy, which is really reassuring, and the whole birth is well-planned too. My last pregnancy was a high risk one (not because of the Type 1, unrelated reasons) and yet I gave birth naturally. All during labour, there were staff checking me, including my lovely DSN.

Most pregnancies go well - and most pregnancies with diabetes go well too 🙂

 

[PixieDust]

Hello, I seen your post and really felt the urge to reply. I waited and waited to have a baby as I felt exactly the same as you. I understand why docs and nurses really drum it home about the risks when you’re a T1 woman of child-bearing age, but I think it must have terrified me to the point of putting it off well past the point I truly was ready. My husband (we’ve been together 24 years) was probably ready for kids at 26, but I just worried and worried and we didn’t seriously start the ball rolling until I was 30. It didn’t happen for us straight away, and we went down the route of fertility, but then when I was 33, I fell pregnant naturally and had a healthy baby boy when I was 34. He was 9lbs, born by c-section at 38 weeks. Five years later, I miscarried at nine weeks, but soon after carried a gorgeous baby girl, who I had when I was 39. She was 8.7lbs. So, yes, both of mine were on the bigger side, but not humongous. It’s hard at times, but if you want to have a family, don’t let the worry of diabetes overshadow it, because the sheer fact you’ve posted this shows me you would try your best to control your levels during pregnancy. I had some awful highs at times and worried, but honestly, if you’re testing and correcting and doing all you can, and if you’ve a team who can help, it’s probably going to be ok. I wish I could have talked to a younger me and given me a nudge. It’s hard, and stressful, and the changes in your insulin requirements changes quite a lot, but it’s do-able. If you do go down that path and get pregnant, don’t beat yourself up over the odd high, or low. It’s really hard to navigate and just try your best. Good luck whatever path life takes you on.

I had both mine on a pump, just disconnected for op, then back on, so that was great. I just started a loop system, which is amazing so far - six days in - and I’m sure that would help for pregnancy loads, especially when you’re sleeping and it does its magic.

And one last thing, you really do get lots of support and extra scans. So much so, when you actually have a baby, you kinda miss all the fuss that was made of you. It’s really do-able, so I just wanted to give you that perspective from a T1 who had babies a little later in life too.

 

[PhoebeC]

Some diabetics can get pre pregnancy support. Definitely tell your diabetic team you want to start trying and get their support. There’s things now like higher folic acid you could be on and as others have said HCL is an option in some areas.

To reassure you we didn’t plan, and she’s now a very grumpy healthy 13 year old.

But my pregnancy was horrific from very early on until her birth at 34 weeks, so I wish I’d planned it because we battled to get through it. And it put me off a another.

I’ve had 2 opportunities in my life to get pregnant and both times I did, I suspect it is more luck than being fertile but we working even know.

Take care and we are here for you so ask away