This is the final entry in a series of four posts by Shelly Jensen.
In the Hospital. My endocrinologist gave me great advice. He forewarned me that I would be more knowledgeable about my diabetes than the nurses would be in the maternity ward. The nurses who took care of me were extraordinary women and I am forever grateful for how sensitive and accommodating they were during both of my stays in the hospital. However, my endocrinologist was correct. I needed to explain to each new nurse that I did not have gestational diabetes and that I had Type 1 Diabetes. Some of the nurses were intrigued by this and took it on as an extra challenge. I told myself I was an interesting case and a learning experience for them. I seemed to get some extra attention which I loved!
You may be asked to remove your pump right before you give birth and you will need to remember put it back on after the birth. A very important thing to remember is that once your baby is no longer in your body, your insulin needs will drop almost immediately. This is a critical time to be in regular contact with your endocrinologist and your diabetic nurse. There will be many adjustments made to your insulin dosage and if you are up to it, you need to stay on top of it more than anyone.
I will never forget the time a maternity nurse noted some low readings and then called my endocrinologist herself for instructions. She came back to let me know that I should change my basal insulin dosage from .7 an hour to 7.5 an hour. Huh?? I said “That can’t be right.” She was adamant about the instructions. Of course, I knew that .75 was the correct instruction and entered it into my pump accordingly. Later I talked to my endocrinologist myself and told him the story. He said “You see, I told you that you would be more knowledgeable than anyone!” Can you imagine if I had dumbly followed the nurse’s orders?
The maternity nurses will want to check your blood sugar readings regularly. Be sure to bring your own glucose meter. There are not many meters available in the maternity ward and it is sometimes difficult to locate one. Also, you will want to continue to store your results in your own meter for downloading data later on.
I will not disclose my A1C results for fear of it being construed as medical advice. But I will tell you that my medical team all agreed that my control was very good throughout both of my pregnancies. Despite this, both of my babies were born very large. My first, our daughter Ava, was 10 lbs 15 oz and my second, our son Aaron Jr., was 10 lbs 11 oz. Each time, everyone in the operating room agreed that they looked like little Buddhas as they emerged into the world. They each had low blood sugar after the birth and were sent to the Neonatal ICU for sugar supplements and close monitoring. And they each became newborn celebrities as they were the fattest babies in the ward.
Both Ava and Aaron were given a bottle of formula immediately after being born. I knew I wanted to breast feed and I did not even realize that a bottle was given my baby. It turns out that I had no choice in this matter due to the blood sugar issues of the baby. Some women may have been furious about this because it is commonly believed that giving a bottle to a newborn will disrupt the success of the breastfeeding process. However, I knew I had to think of the overall health of my baby and nothing else. I used a breast pump and brought my milk down to the NICU every day. When each baby came home, I was able to successfully breastfeed while continuing to supplement with a bottle or two a day.
New Motherhood. To ease your mind, I will tell you that it only took about a month for each of my children to “level out” in their weight. Ava, now three years old, is currently in the 25th percentile of weight and 75th percentile of height. This is similar to my own stature and naturally how she is growing. Aaron Jr. is now one year old and in the 50th percentile of both weight and height, similar to the stature of my husband.
As a new mom your tendency may be to put yourself last. This is very normal for new moms but it can become a health threat if you are diabetic. It starts out with not finding time for any kind of pampering to not finding time to shower much less shave your legs and can turn into never finding time to exercise, check your blood sugar and monitor your diet. This started to happen when my first baby was born and was even worse when my second baby was born. I really had to have a talk with myself. My constant reminder was and still is this: your baby needs a healthy and happy mother. It is not a selfish act to take care of yourself. In fact, letting this slide can be considered selfish now that another little human being is relying on you to be the best you can be.
Remembering to take care of yourself can be especially challenging if you decide to breastfeed. I found that breastfeeding brought my blood sugar levels down. This can be a good thing until it brings your blood sugars levels too low. And, if your baby is nursing at the moment, the last thing you want to do is disturb the process by checking your blood sugar or pouring yourself a glass of orange juice. However, you must do that. I found myself in a scary situation when I thought I could make it just a few more minutes so that my baby could finish nursing. I let it go too long and almost passed out. You will have to teach yourself that there are times when you must put yourself first in order to remain a healthy mother for your child. Take the time to check your blood sugar and eat when you need to nourish yourself.
Ava and Aaron Jr. are both very healthy and active, each displaying their father’s dazzling blue eyes. Ava is taking ballet classes and loves to wear her princess dresses. She is very aware of Mommy’s medical devices. When I check my blood sugar, she often looks at me with concern and says, “Mommy, is that an owie?” I say, “Well, not really. It is just something that Mommy has to do.” Aaron Jr. is full of smiles and giggles. I just taught him the word “hug”. He can’t say it but he knows what it means when I ask for one. He snuggles under my neck and I melt. I am not worried about my children inheriting the disease from me. Of course I know the signs and will pick up on them immediately if I suspect a thing. However, the chances are very low and my husband and I choose to live each day appreciating the amazing two human beings we have brought into our world. In fact, today we participated in our first “Walk for the Cure” as Team Jensen. We all had a blast.
Post Script
Share your stories with me. As I continue to say, every pregnancy and every person with diabetes is different. These were my experiences but you will have your own unique experiences. Please write to me and let me know your own story. I would love to hear from you. Also, if you have Type 1 Diabetes and are hoping to become a mother, please contact me. My goal is to reach out other expectant mothers with Type 1 Diabetes. My wish is that the next woman who feels as frightened and alone as I did may be comforted by our stories.
Jensen Family Photo
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