My doctor told me months ago that she would most likely induce me on the 29th, but hadn't officially scheduled it until a few days ago. Now I'm really starting to freak out! I can't believe it's almost time for her to be here!
So I'm looking for advice on how to handle labor and delivery. Since I use a pump, she's allowing me to handle my own blood sugars. I've been seeing my endo every 2 weeks and I have an appointment with him next week to go over last minute stuff, but I'm just wondering about everyone elses experience with pumping during labor. She's going to put in two IV lines, one in each arm, just in case something happens then they can take over my insulin without having to try and get a line in, but one won't be hooked up to anything (not looking forward to that AT ALL). I told my husband I would train him on how to work my pump so I could just tell him what I needed done (setting a temp basal, suspending, etc) instead of trying to do it myself. Thankfully, he knows how to check my blood, so I don't have to teach him that :) So how much did everyone elses insulin needs decrease, and did it happen before, during, or after labor? My endo seems to think it won't be until after, but my CDE wanted me to set a new basal when labor starts...so that's helpful.
I'm going to try and breast feed for as long as I can. My goal is 1 year, but I'm trying not to put any expectations on it just in case it doesn't happen. I don't want to set myself up for feeling like a failure. So any tips on how to keep my blood sugar up while BFing for the first few months? My CDE suggested drinking Gatorade so that I'm getting the sugar and electrolytes while I'm BFing. Anything else I'll need to keep handy? And also, should I bring Gatorade and juice to the hospital with me? I know the hospital will provide me with anything I need, but I know that it might not be in the timely manner that I need it.
I feel like I'm forgetting some questions, but those were my two major concerns so if I think of anything else I'll add it, or if there's something I'm forgetting, please feel free to add it. I will take any and all advice at this point!!
Take a deep breath, Anna, it will be okay! 1. Definitely bring some juice and snacks with you to Labor and Delivery so you have it on hand. 2. We bought a ton of juice for when I came home and breast feed and I used it up quickly... I ended up stopping after about a month, but I would think once you get things figured out a bit, you won't have so many lows, but I was crushing the juice the first two weeks. 3. Insulin and blood sugars during L&D... I ended up being put on an insulin IV and definitely needed much less insulin than I expected, even when I was at the early stages of induction. I also (frankly) was surprised at how well the nurses managed my blood sugar but also know women who were really happy to have a bit of control during the process. I would maybe think too about the location of your pump so that it won't get in the way, chances are you'll be moving around at some point and won't want to get tangled up in the tubing if you don't have a pod.
How exciting! Don't worry too much, with L&D I was left on my pump and handled that fine...as long as you have a good endo that knows what to do. Through breastfeeding I definitely crashed every time I nursed for the first few months...so I had to have juice stocked up and readily available all the time. But that will go away eventually, I'm sure it's slightly different for every person though. Definitely definitely bring your own drinks and snacks...especially if you run into a nurse that isn't willing to get you what you need or when you need it. Best of luck to you :)
I was induced as well. L&D went well - I kept my bg between 60 and 85 the entire time. I did not have to tinker with my basal rates at that point. Afterward, someone from my endo's office stopped by my room and gave me pointers for lowering my basals (I think it decrease by 50% across the board).
My husband and I met with my pump trainer to get him trained. Best move! He wore a pod for 3 days with saline and got a "peek" at what it's like. He also knew what to do with it inside and out (just in case I couldn't do what I needed to with it for whatever reason). He never had to touch it.
I have a cgm and that was a lifesaver! The nurses would just peek at that and let me know if they wanted me to actually test. They were pretty impressed with that technology :)
I breastfed for 14 months. Yes, there are some lows at the beginning. I just planned to snack at the same time as I fed my little guy. No big issues. Additionally, we had free access to the L&D/maternity fridge so, I could grab a juice or yogurt 24/7. check with your delivery room ahead of time (take a tour if you can!). I lugged enough stuff to the hospital, I wouldn't want to carry more than I had to :)
Good luck in your last few weeks! They go so slowly and so quickly at the same time :)
Yes, my OB is trying to pressure me into having a c-section, but I’m not budging. As of yesterday, I’m not progressing at all, but anything can happen between now and the 29th. And my sister was successfully induced starting from nothing, so I want to at least be given the chance to deliever vaginally. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. She’s only estimating an 8lbs baby as it is. That’s just not that big to me! My nephews and sisters were all over 8lbs and no one in my family has had a c-section.
Yes, I started from nothing as well :) I was admitted the night before and they inserted cervadil. Overnight I got to 2 cm. They broke my water and that started labor. 6hrs later, my little guy was born. No pitocin until I was already pushing for an hour (just to even out my contractions). I had no adverse reaction to it at all. I did end up getting an epidural (it was not my intention going into labor). But it worked for me. No regrets :)
I am doing the c-section route in September, but it is for a completely non-D related issue. I agree that you should hear out your OB, but definitely make your own decision.
I did a LOT of reading ahead of time and even still there were situations that I was unprepared for. I would encourage you to make your best plan and hold loosely to it. Don't we as PWD know how life throws us curve balls? Keep your eye on the prize - a healthy baby. You sound like you have a great attitude, and that will take you through this well.
Relax!! I was super nervous too. I was induced at 38.5 weeks, I was left on my pump and allowed to monitor my own glucose levels. I was checking my bg every hour or so. Once contractions really started I dropped my basal to about 50% perhaps lower as it progressed (its hard to remember). I had two IV’s in as well–you won’t notice them when things get going. Take snacks/glucose tabs with you, but you can also ask for juice in advance. Bring a little cooler since most rooms don’t have a fridge. After delivery my insulin needs dropped dramatically–I mean immediately. I was constantly fighting lows=eating lots of cookies. Being able to eat whatever I wanted was a pretty awesome treat. I’m still dealing with lows 6 months out. Breastfeeding requires a lot of energy. Just when I think I have it figured out my requirements drop again. Be sure to have lots of juice/glucose tabs/granola bars/trail mix/whatever on hand. I was amazed at how unable I was to prepare food. The box of granola bars became my best friend. Remember, breastfeeding is a learned skill for both you and baby. It took my son and I a couple of weeks to find our rhythm. Babies need very little milk their first few days so don’t get discouraged if it takes a little work at first. Good luck to you!!
My insulin needs definitely decreased as soon I got into active labor. After all, labor is really physically taxing. Frequent testing will keep you on top of what's going on. You may want to ask, just so you'll know what to expect, whether you'll be allowed clear liquids or whether they'll give you dextrose through your IV if you become hypoglycemic.
Definitely bring juice and snacks to the hospital. Nurses are extremely busy, and yours might be tending someone really sick right when you need some juice. Also bring snacks for yourself and your husband. My husband ended up in a situation where he hadn't eaten for hours and hours and the cafeteria's computer system was down, so he couldn't buy anything, so the granola bars and peanut butter crackers we had brought were a lifesaver for him.
I hope breastfeeding goes really well for you. I am still nursing my 18-month-old, but it was hard at the beginning. I did experience lows with breastfeeding, but the timing of them seemed fairly random to me--it wasn't necessarily that I would crash right after nursing. So just try to keep an eye on any patterns (if you have time/energy, haha...) You are definitely going to be HUNGRY, though, regardless, so keep lots of snacks around and please ask your friends and family to bring meals over. Oh, and you'll be THIRSTY, so keep water bottles where you nurse or ask your husband to bring you some water as soon as you sit down to nurse.
Best of luck. And don't be afraid to keep on standing up for what you know is right for yourself and asking lots of questions, it will serve you well.
My OB let me keep my pump and monitor my own blood sugar. He had me tell him what I wanted on hand iv wise related to diabetes and let me make the decision if and when I needed it. I didn't need anything. I kept my blood sugars 85 and below. My daughter was in NICU for many reasons one being they could keep a closer eye on her blood sugars there but that wasn't the only reason. The reasons were only a precaution though. They said that since I had such tight control she didn't have blood sugar issues. I didn't even have an endo when i was pregnant but i had extremely tight control all through my pregnancy so my OB wasn't worried about an endo. He told me that I could handle it myself unless I ran into trouble. So he trusted me to do what I needed to do which was nice. I did breast feed for a while but for me the lows were just horrible. I did it for about 6 months and no matter what I did i couldn't get a handle on the lows so I ended up quitting. My daughter was on high calorie formula from the get go anyway with breast milk supplementing because she was only 4.5 lbs when she was born.
