Sweet Beginnings: My Pregnancy Journey

Finding out that I was pregnant and that my husband I were expecting, was truly a sweet beginning. My journey to becoming a mom is something that I am incredibly proud to share and will forever stand as one of my greatest achievements.

Being a woman and growing a whole human being is truly a miracle of life. I am constantly amazed by what our bodies can achieve, especially in challenging circumstances like having type 1 diabetes. It’s even more remarkable to dispel the myths and prove that people with diabetes can have a mostly normal pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.

But to start from the beginning, I want to talk about what it means to be pregnant while living with type 1 diabetes. *Disclaimer – Every pregnancy is unique, so these are things that I experienced during my pregnancy. 

• Pregnancy Considered High Risk  – Despite having a pre-existing health condition that was well-managed, my pregnancy was still considered as high risk due to the increase for potential risk to myself, baby, or both. This required close monitoring by my healthcare providers through more frequent check-ups, including ultrasounds, blood tests, and fetal monitoring, to continuously assess the health of both mom and baby and to help minimize the likelihood and severity of complications. More ultrasounds meant more pictures of baby. Not only did I gain peace of mind knowing my baby was okay, but I also had the opportunity to see her more frequently! I guess that's one advantage of being considered a high-risk pregnancy.
  

• Frequent Visits with my Medical Team – Given the frequent check-ups required, I anticipated a higher number of doctor appointments. Over the course of my 37-week pregnancy, I had about 51 visits with my OB, the maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, the diabetes management team, and the hematologist. Having so many appointments can be overwhelming, but I knew that I had to stay calm and positive, knowing that these visits were essential for ensuring mom and baby were doing well and for keeping an extra eye on things...That’s not to say I was always calm and positive.
  

• Changing Insulin Needs - Insulin needs can fluctuate significantly during and after pregnancy. On a normal day, diabetes is no walk in the park, but during pregnancy, it felt like trying to perform Simone Biles’ floor routine—while blindfolded, juggling flaming torches, and dodging tomatoes being tossed at me. A bit dramatic, I know, but some days truly felt like this. Until you’re knee-deep in it, no one truly understands the mental and physical exhaustion of having a constant battle with your own body while trying to keep a tiny human inside you healthy and growing. To ease some of the stress, it was crucial for me to truly understand and listen to my body, so I could adjust and navigate through the trenches as best as possible. My insulin needs were constantly shifting, so I worked closely with my diabetes management team, meeting every other week during the first trimester and then weekly as my pregnancy progressed, to adjust my pump settings accordingly. Everyone’s settings will vary, and honestly, I don’t recall all the specifics. However, I can share that with my Tandem T-Slim pump, I used sleep mode 24/7 for a period during my pregnancy. My targets were an A1C below 6 (typically averaging 5.5 or lower), a 1-hour post-meal blood sugar under 120, and generally staying below that 120 mark. I also had different profile settings configured for various stages: pregnancy, active labor, delivery (depending on vaginal birth or C-section), post-delivery, and breastfeeding, to address all these scenarios.
  

• Baby’s Belly Trending Larger than Average – People with type 1 diabetes may have larger babies due to several factors during pregnancy. High blood sugar levels can lead to increased insulin production by the baby, as the baby’s pancreas produces more insulin in response to the elevated glucose levels from the mom. This excess insulin promotes excessive growth and fat storage in the baby. Despite my best efforts to maintain stable blood sugar levels, some things were just out of my control. The maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialist noted that my baby’s belly was on the larger side. However, they reassured me that this was not unusual for women with type 1 diabetes. Although this made me super anxious, my baby stayed perfectly healthy and was born with a well-proportioned belly, weighing 7lbs 14oz.

• Induction at 37 Weeks – By 37 weeks, the baby’s vital organs are sufficiently developed and a pregnancy is considered full-term. Due to the onset of preeclampsia toward the end of my pregnancy, it was necessary to induce labor at 37 weeks to mitigate risks for both me and baby. *Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication categorized by high blood pressure, elevated protein levels in urine (which may indicate kidney damage), and swelling in the hands, feet, and face. It typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and can lead to severe health issues, such as damage to major organs, stroke, and preterm birth. My symptoms included high-blood pressure and swelling in my face, legs and feet but thankfully, I was able to make it to 37 weeks.

Despite living with a chronic illness, having a healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby is achievable. It does, however, come with its own set of challenges, as is often the case in life.

The most important lessons I’ve learned from this experience are to (1) find a supportive medical team you trust and feel comfortable with, (2) know that there are some things that are completely out of your control, (3) listen to your body, and (4) give yourself grace. Perfect blood sugar management is unrealistic, so don’t set that as your standard. Instead, focus on doing your best to maintain steady blood sugar levels, follow a healthy, balanced diet, and be as active as your can. Knowing that you are doing everything in your power to reach that finish line is all you can ask of yourself. Remember, it's okay to stray from the path occasionally. Don't be too hard on yourself - just get back on track and keep moving forward.

My pregnancy was no easy feat, but I'd go through it a thousand times over. No one ever said that the best things in life come easily.