Finally, four months later . . . a baby!

I've tried several times to sit down and write my baby's birth story for this blog, but up until now it's just been too hard. While, diabetes-ly speaking, I consider the birth of my daughter a total success, the rest of the experience was extremely traumatic for me, and it's going to take a while to get it all down in writing. So, let's start with the diabetes-specific stuff first, because it's not too painful for me, and I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments.

My final A1C before going in to have my baby was 5.6. My blood sugars throughout my entire pregnancy were immaculate.  My baby NEVER measured large during the entire pregnancy, and at my last check up, my doctor guessed that she would be in the range of 7 lbs.

I ended up being induced and 39 weeks, 1 day.  Looking back, there was absolutely no reason for my induction, other than my doctors were nervous and that "diabetics tend to have big babies." I was going in for non-stress tests twice a week, and my baby was never in any distress.  If I were to do it all over again, I would refuse an induction unless it was really medically necessary.

I'll write about the whole induction and labor later, I'm still too annoyed/upset/traumatized/sad about it all to write about it now.  But, to just detail the diabetes stuff, you need to know that I was induced, was in labor for 24 hours, my labor never progressed, and I ended up having a c-section.  Our baby was born at 7 lbs, 9 oz, 19" long. Perfect, and beautiful, Apgar of 9!

The entire time I was in the hospital, including during labor, the c-section and recovery I was allowed to manage my own diabetes with my own pump, my own glucometer and my own CGM.  I had an IV of dextrose/saline hooked up to me that they could start if my blood sugar dropped too low, but I rarely needed that, and if I started dropping a little low, I'd eat Popsicles (because that was the only thing they let me eat). Other than a few mild lows, my sugars were totally within normal range during the entire labor and c-section.  All the doctors and nurses were impressed with my management. One thing I will say, is that I was really shocked how little the hospital nurses, pharmacists, and doctors knew about diabetes management. It's like they are all still living in the 1980s when it comes to diabetes management. They kept asking me if I was using "Regular" insulin. Sheesh.

When my baby was born, her blood sugar was low and they fed her formula before letting me try to breast feed, which I was pretty ticked about. I'm still not sure why her blood sugars were low, since that's only supposed to happen if mine are high, right? And mine were perfect.  So, who knows? Also, right after delivery, my insulin needs plummeted dramatically.  I was low pretty much the entire time I was in the hospital recovering, and I had to cut my basal rates and I:C and sensitivity factor back to below my pre-pregnancy rates.

I ended up not being able to breast feed (another traumatic experience for me that I will detail later), so I didn't have to deal with any of the breast feeding lows that tend to happen.

C-section recovery was a total Bi*%$, but I don't think I would've recovered any quicker had I not had diabetes.  I think it would've been awful either way.

Our baby is perfect. She's had some minor heath problems (which I will also detail later), none of which have any relation to me having diabetes.

Since having our baby, one of the things that ticks me off so bad is all the "your baby is so big" crud I got and am still getting 4 months later.   My baby was normal at birth and she's normal now. I was on fluids for 30 hours before she was born, so I'm also pretty sure that she was actually some where in the neighborhood of a 6 lb something oz baby, because she was SO puffed up from the fluids. That is a totally normal sized baby, people! Also, how come when other women have 9 lb babies, people don't say a thing about it, but as soon as a diabetic has a normal sized baby, they make comments about how it's big? Grrrrr.

OK, I better stop writing now, because I'm just starting to get ticked off and angry again.  So, the diabetes take-away for me has been this: I can totally successfully manage my diabetes while pregnant.  Doctors kind of suck and will label you because you're diabetic and will try to make you have an induction, which will be awful and traumatic.  But, I'm still a diabetes rock star, and my baby was not affected by my diabetes.  And my baby is gorgeous. Seriously, people. I'm vain about how beautiful my daughter is. :)