I find that doing a lot of research on my own helps, so that I can be a little more assertive and push back with some of my team. It helps that in my case, my endo is supportive of low carb, she knows me, and she’s very reasonable and open-minded when it comes to “non-traditional” treatment. If someone (usually the MFM or OB) raises an eyebrow at a spike, I reiterate that my average bg for the last three months was in the 90s and the spike only lasted for two hours. The OB tried to tell me that a bg in the 50s would harm the baby, and I pressed her for specifics on how exactly that would happen (all the research says the only risk is if you pass out or trip and physically impact the baby in some way). I stress to both the OB and MFM that my endo manages my diabetes and make sure to mention my 5.1 A1C. I’ve had multiple people try to tell me that low carb would harm the baby and similarly, pressed them for specifics and asked for the studies that support that argument. I’ve learned that many of the medical professionals have archaic and incorrect beliefs, so I am cautious about just buying into anything they tell me. That’s why I think it’s critical to have at least one person on your team that you feel super comfortable with, so that s/he can be your voice of reason.
With the low carb, I think it might actually be better to frame the discussion by saying that you’re making sure to eat as healthy as possible, with whole foods. So lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, little to know processed foods, etc. Had I done that, I may have been able to avoid some of the reactions from the MFM (who is, frankly, kind of intimidating and doom and gloom, but I’ve learned to take her in stride and chuckle about whatever she tells me as soon as I leave the appointment). When I started low carb, I followed Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution plan very closely. It calls for 6 carbs at breakfast, 12 at lunch, and 12 at dinner, so 30 for the full day. You can basically eat all the fats you want and I find that keeps me from having any kind of cravings. These days, I eat more carbs than that, as I’ve re-introduced things like beans, quinoa, sweet potatoes, high fiber English Muffins, and some fruits. Carb counting is not my specialty, but I’d guess I’m at about 50-60 per day.
When I started low carb and asked my endo about going to a nutritionist to make sure I was doing it correctly and getting all the necessary nutrients, she recommended I not do that. She said the nutritionist was only going to tell me to eat more carbs. So, I found groups online, like this one, and Grit Pregnancies on Facebook, where I can ask questions of people who are living this and read about their experiences.
So as an aside to all of this, as just one example of one of my doctors having questionable methods and beliefs, I asked my MFM why my records say I am “showing signs of pre-gestational diabetes” when I have been T1D for nearly 30 years. She said they know I’m T1D but they only indicate pre-gestational or gestational for their patients. Why they picked “pre” for me, no clue. It’s just odd. Fortunately, I feel like she has a handle on evaluating how my baby is doing, so I can deal with the rest.
Finally, regarding adoption: if you choose this route, which is an admirable one, I don’t think there are that many factors that rule you out, depending on what kind of adoption you’re interested in. From one end of the spectrum to the other is adopting a white American baby to a foster-adoption of a kid with special needs. Personally, I’ve always wanted (and still want to pursue this) to do foster adoption for either teenagers or a sibling set; both groups are among the hardest to place. Age and marital status are minor issues compared to having a safe home and a stable lifestyle.
Anyways, sorry for the super long post. In summary, do your best to learn what you can so that you can push back and advocate for yourself.
), the others not so much. Any tips?
