anyone else not seen a dr./midwife yet? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by JynxGirl 

Honestly, we're preparing for a UC. If we get harassed or bothered by anyone about it, we'll just say "We didn't make it in time". The only addition to what you had on hand would be that I will have a sterile lancet or three (not a bother since I currently have 400 of them in my cupboard!) on hand to test baby's blood sugar, and possibly some stashed colostrum if I can manage to pump any out before I go into labor in case the little one's sugar crashed. I have  been researching diabetics who have had home births, but the stats just aren't there. It feels like every woman with any kind of diabetes ends up having a C-section. I'm still trying to find a good outcome for a diabetic who gets pregnant.

Eh, now you've got me hunting! I can't find anything on type 1 diabetes (type 2? No idea what you are, but either way I can't find it) and homebirth or unassisted birth. I can't find a whole lot of birth stories of diabetics in general. Don't know what that means. I found a couple where labour was super super fast and the baby was born intervention-free, and they just checked mom and baby for blood sugar issues and everything was great.

But from what I can gather... if your numbers are under control then for you there isn't a huge risk. I'm sure you know all the risks to baby as well, definitely far better then my 45 minutes of hunting would tell me. If you know what to do for a shoulder dystocia, as much as you can (which any freebirther should probably know), and i assume you'd know how to test/control blood sugars for you during labour and for baby when s/he is born then it doesn't seem like that huge a deal.

[sarahlynne]

I can't give any sources of info, but a good friend of mine has type 1 and has had three vaginal deliveries.  She had to keep a close watch on her sugars and they preferred her sugars to be in good control even before the pregnancy.  This was in Michigan, though, perhaps it is different in Canada.  I would say also that this was at a hospital that I would not consider to be "naturally minded".  Don't know if this is any help, just wanted to say that I don't think that is an across the board position and maybe more the philosophy of that doc/hospital. 

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by sarahlynne 

I can't give any sources of info, but a good friend of mine has type 1 and has had three vaginal deliveries.  She had to keep a close watch on her sugars and they preferred her sugars to be in good control even before the pregnancy.  This was in Michigan, though, perhaps it is different in Canada.  I would say also that this was at a hospital that I would not consider to be "naturally minded".  Don't know if this is any help, just wanted to say that I don't think that is an across the board position and maybe more the philosophy of that doc/hospital. 

I kept seeing things on early induction (like, 36 weeks!?) and immediate c-section deliveries "just in case" the baby is too big to fit, and many many many many ultrasounds at the end to determine if the baby will fit through the pelvis and weekly NST's from +/- 34 weeks. Yikes.

I can get that if your sugars are pretty wacky (and pregnancy seems to make it really hard to control for some people), but to do it just by standard even if the numbers are coming back great and well under control? I don't get it. I don't get a lot of standard care procedures, though, so I'm hardly the one to be asking these questions! I also don't know the first thing about diabetes so my understanding is definitely not up to par.

[sarahlynne]

This is an area that just highlights the fact that Obstetrics in the US is practiced differently in each location.  Evidence based care is something that often has to be fought for.  The individual physician/practice is where the questions must be asked, as each has different statistics that may or may not be in line with even AGOC standards. 

[JynxGirl]

Originally Posted by Astraia 

Eh, now you've got me hunting! I can't find anything on type 1 diabetes (type 2? No idea what you are, but either way I can't find it) and homebirth or unassisted birth. I can't find a whole lot of birth stories of diabetics in general. Don't know what that means. I found a couple where labour was super super fast and the baby was born intervention-free, and they just checked mom and baby for blood sugar issues and everything was great.

But from what I can gather... if your numbers are under control then for you there isn't a huge risk. I'm sure you know all the risks to baby as well, definitely far better then my 45 minutes of hunting would tell me. If you know what to do for a shoulder dystocia, as much as you can (which any freebirther should probably know), and i assume you'd know how to test/control blood sugars for you during labour and for baby when s/he is born then it doesn't seem like that huge a deal.

I'm type 2, though the beginning of my pregnancy was a nightmare of high sugars, they're leveling off with the right mix of insulins. 

As soon as my first trimester is over, my doc is putting me on a pump, and that too should help me have much better control. Apparently the rule in labor is to test every half hour, so that will be my plan. :) 

Let me know if you find any stories. :D

[JynxGirl]

Yeah, diabetes and pregnancy is scary as hell. Your chance of miscarriage is higher in the first trimester, but docs are loathe to give you too much medication or anything other than insulin, so a lot of times, moms are left scrambling to get the right care (not to mention FINDING a doctor in the first place here in Canada.)

In labor, the rule is C-section because diabetic babies due trend towards larger, but only if the mom doesn't have her sugars in control. So, getting sugar under control is paramount. Doctors panic and threaten everything they can to make you agree to a section. If you're lucky to find a doctor who doesn't want to cut you at 36 weeks, they will insist on pitocin drips no later than 39. You will NOT be allowed to go to 40 weeks. 

So I'll be going into hiding if I make it that far. :P

Edit: Something tells me I also just became this groups expert in case anyone gets the lovely gestational diabetes diagnosis.... which I pray none of you do. :)

[layne]

Originally Posted by JynxGirl 

Edit: Something tells me I also just became this groups expert in case anyone gets the lovely gestational diabetes diagnosis.... which I pray none of you do. :)

HA!  I had that my first pregnancy and suspect it again this time, but it was so easily controlled with diet that it doesn't scare me.  I hope you are doing well still?

JUST GOT MEDICAID!!!!!!   YAY!!!!!!!  Now I have to find an obgyn.  Somehow that scares me all of a sudden.

[JynxGirl]

Originally Posted by layne 

HA!  I had that my first pregnancy and suspect it again this time, but it was so easily controlled with diet that it doesn't scare me.  I hope you are doing well still?

JUST GOT MEDICAID!!!!!!   YAY!!!!!!!  Now I have to find an obgyn.  Somehow that scares me all of a sudden.

I am managing my sugar rather nicely with some minor dietary changes, and tweaking my own insulin rates. :P The nurses at the education center don't like it when I do that, but tough. 

YAY FOR MEDICAID!!!

[cristeen]

I just started calling MWs today, and I'm 10 weeks.  It'll be another month before I hire one.  But I did have my GP order tests for me, even though they don't do OB care. 

[layne]

I finally got Medicaid and an appointment!  I see an obgyn monday.  He is super highly recommended, his reviews are amazing, his receptionist sounds sweet, and it sounds like they are going to want to do an US right away!  Now I am going to spend the weekend worrying that there won't really be a baby in there.  Seeing the baby will be a nice way to celebrate the first day of the 12th week, though, if I do get to see her.