What are the chances I'll be able to carry my baby to term if I am diabetic?

Answer 1

I have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 15. I had my first pregnancy at age 27 and my second at age 29. Both produced beautiful, full-term, average weight (6 lbs., 12 oz and 7 lbs., 12 oz) boys. My first pregnancy happened quickly. Due to the fact that my periods were highly irregular, I was not aware that I was pregnant until 12 weeks. That son was born with something called PAPVR (Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return) of the heart. Basically, because I wasn't aware that I was pregnant during the early stages of pregnancy when the heart was forming, he had a defect that was corrected by surgery (I thank God every day that he is now healthy). My second son had no problems (thank God again). My point is this, get your blood sugars under PERFECT control for about 3 months prior to conception and keep them there throughout. You will have more testing (extra ultrasounds, blood work, eye exams) but you and your baby should be just fine. I learned my lesson the difficult way and made sure the 2nd pregnancy was more planned. NOTE: My A1C levels throughout pregnancy were 5.1 and 5.2 (which is at a "non-diabetic" level). THIS WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. They shoud have been at that level BEFORE conception. Take it from me. Get your A1C levels at better than perfect range and ask your OBGYN for extra folic acid pills and a script for prenatal vitamins containing folic acid. TAKE THESE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO CONCEPTION. For diabetics, it is not only what we do during pregnancy, but, it is what we do before pregnancy to prepare our bodies. GOOD LUCK!! I have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 15. I had my first pregnancy at age 27 and my second at age 29. Both produced beautiful, full-term, average weight (6 lbs., 12 oz and 7 lbs., 12 oz) boys. My first pregnancy happened quickly. Due to the fact that my periods were highly irregular, I was not aware that I was pregnant until 12 weeks. That son was born with something called PAPVR (Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return) of the heart. Basically, because I wasn't aware that I was pregnant during the early stages of pregnancy when the heart was forming, he had a defect that was corrected by surgery (I thank God every day that he is now healthy). My second son had no problems (thank God again). My point is this, get your blood sugars under PERFECT control for about 3 months prior to conception and keep them there throughout. You will have more testing (extra ultrasounds, blood work, eye exams) but you and your baby should be just fine. I learned my lesson the difficult way and made sure the 2nd pregnancy was more planned. NOTE: My A1C levels throughout pregnancy were 5.1 and 5.2 (which is at a "non-diabetic" level). THIS WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. They shoud have been at that level BEFORE conception. Take it from me. Get your A1C levels at better than perfect range and ask your OBGYN for extra folic acid pills and a script for prenatal vitamins containing folic acid. TAKE THESE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO CONCEPTION. For diabetics, it is not only what we do during pregnancy, but, it is what we do before pregnancy to prepare our bodies. GOOD LUCK!!