I’d like to know how many of you are balancing life with more than one child, husband and a (slightly demanding) full time job? I am blessed with a healthy and happy 4 year old son and life’s going good right now (except for the common diabetic ups and downs). Nevertheless, it’s a constant concern if I should have another child or stop and devote my life to my son. I find myself more days than not, thinking that I couldn’t make it through with two children. Then, there that wishful thinking of having a beautiful baby girl… If any of you have made the decision to stop with one, please let me know. If any of you have figured a formula for balancing more than that, don’t hold back, I need to know.
I’ve thought the same thing - my daughter will be 4 in December - but we’ve decided to start trying for #2 in September. On days like today, I don’t know how it’ll all work, but I’m confident it’ll be just fine. All the best in whatever you choose to do! I am excited to hear how everyone else will respond to your question 
I’m pregnant with #2 and can’t stop worrying about how everything will change. My daughter will be 2 years old when her baby brother is born. I think it’s totally natural to have these concerns. And there’s no right answer. Life is going to change on you either way over the years. If you think you’ll always dream about trying for that little girl (even if you end up with a little boy the second time, too), you have a strong case for trying for number 2.
My daughter is 5 weeks old now. We’ve been discussing in loose terms about if we want to try for another later on in life (maybe in 2 years)… or adopt. The pregnancy was really tough on me (8 insulin shock comas, severe severe swelling from toximia, emergency c section after 21 hours of labor due to the baby not having a soft spot so couldn’t come down into my cervix). We’re concerned I wont be able to care for my current child during another difficult pregnancy, should it happen. It’s somethiing we’re tossing around for now as it’s much too soon to try again… but we’re undecided. And that’s just on the pregnancy part- let alone the struggles with handling a newborn with a toddler, a job and the full-time job of Type 1. If you find the answer, please let me know.
I appreciate your responses. As of now, my husband and I have decided to look at that decision in another year. A few months back we had decided to go ahead and try so I stopped taking birth control for 2 months. It seemed like in those two months, we were put to the test in every way. Job stress, needs of our son, marriage life, etc. So here we are, back on birth control and riding out the wave untill next year (as I struggle to stand firm on that decision).
My son started pre-K so we’re thinking that he’ll be able to do more things for himself as the year goes on. I’d like to also think that we won’t have that stressful “first child” parenting syndrom.
OK, I want to drink from the same well that you girls are drinking from:) You’ve all got girls! Oh I love my son to pieces though. He makes life an adventure.
it is possible…there’s a type 1 in my local insulin pump group who has 3 children(all 4 and under). (it all depends on the person,circumstances of course) I think that I will be waiting a few years after #1 but we would like more then 1 as well.
Good question Lindsay! I can only add to the voices that I am thinking about the same questions. Our son is only two months old.
I know that we do want a second child, but before I was pregnant with our son, I thought that I wanted 3 or 4 children. Now that I see how intense the first months are, I’m not sure that I can do it.
I don’t know how I could devote the attention to my blood sugars during the pregnancy with 1, 2, or 3 (!) young children around. I think a big question is how much support do you have from your husband, family, other childcare resources. Will you have someone to help you take care of your son during your pregnancy and time caring for a newborn? Could he be in preschool or kindergarten then?
I’m sure it is possible and I know that women have done it! But I think that their sanity must depend heavily on the amount of support that they have.
You are right on about the support system. My parents are such a blessing. I think they’re holding their breath that I will wait a little longer. Their opinion matters so much because they can really see things from the outside. My husband is very supportive, but I hate to dump a heavy load on him bacause of his stressful/demanding job. I remember being in your position when Weston was only a few months old thinking “my gosh how will I ever have more”… Over the years it has gotten easier because he can do more for himself, like getting himself dressed of a morning when mommy is low.
I agree that it’s hard to imagine taking care of oneself with 2-3 very young children in one’s care.
Oh my goodness. Three children all under 4 is pretty amazing. I wonder if she’s a stay at home mom?
Hey congrats on your sweet baby girl. Yes, it seems like you had a rough go at it. I just remember people telling me that every pregnancy is different from the previous. Maybe your second pregnancy, whenever that is, will be much easier.
That is the huge hope. We’re leaning toward trying for a second baby in a year and a half so they will be only 2 years apart. We’re still leary of what might happen, but we knew it was going to be difficult (though maybe not SO difficult) when we were pregnant the first time. I dont know yet what I could do differently during pregnancy to ease the pain or the outcome, but I’m considering and researching for now. It’s still a ways off and the final product, my beautiful baby who has my eye shape but my husband’s eye color, my lips but his toes, my nose but his eyebrows, etc. was totally worth everything we went through. I would do it again, but I dont know if I can put my husband through it again.
My husband is amazing with his support. So is my father who lives ten minutes down the road from us now. But still, there are some days when I’m not sure that I can handle the last trimester of pregnancy (when things got REALLY rough for me) with a small child- baby or toddler aged.
Heart is six weeks old now and I’m struggling with my glucose levels because I’m so caught up in her schedule and keeping the house in order. I can probably prioritize better, but it’s hard to step back. I’m guessing the stepping back is what I’m going to need to do. My average these past few weeks has been 150- which sounds great on paper, but I know that it’s back to the roller coaster numbers that made that average so good. Compared to my flatline numbers during pregnancy, I’m a complete failure in my diabetes management these days. Hoping it’s just an "adjustmemt’ period.
Just wanted to reassure you that your numbers will settle down soon. I found it was easiest to work on one time of day diabetes-wise and tackle that area 1st. Rather than tackle the worst area 1st, I worked on extending my best blood sugar times of day. For me, lunch was smooth sailing so I worked on extending that into dinner. Then worked on breakfast, then worked on over-nights, which are still crap, but improving.
I just found that approach worked better for my over-all mood and ability to enjoy my time as a new mom.
Hi Marps! Sounds like what I experienced too. I went days without changing my infusion set on my pump. It never even crossed my mind.
I just went to my endo for the first time since pregnancy and my A1c actually was better than during pregnancy, but I know that it is because I am having lows multiple times a day. (That actually frustrated me because I worked so hard is pregnancy and NOW my A1c is better!!)
We lowered my basals and I am still needing to eat 10-15g of fast acting carbs per breastfeeding, which is a lot since our son eats 10-14 times a day
I figure that things will level off at some point!! It has gotten easier in the last few weeks to find time to eat. I’m hoping that once we get on a nap schedule my life will become more organized – we’ll see!
Wow! 10-14 times per day? Heart eats only 6-8 times per day. That’s amazing what differences there are in babies.
I’m fighting highs. I know it’s from neglect because my mind can’t just pick up where it left off before pregnancy. Thinking about going back to Metformin to help me absorb the insulin.
The good news, though, is Heart is doing really really well. She is extremely active and healthy. We’re so proud of her. And I healed up nicely too. Despite my overwhelming fears of never healing from a c section, I’m doing really well. It’s only tender if I have to stretch myself extremely far and the muscles pull. Other than that, I seem to have lost all of the pregnancy weight, most of the Pre-E swelling, and the c section scar is really tiny!
Hope you are doing really well too Kristin! It’s always nice to hear from you. You were a major source of support for me while I was pregnant.
That’s a nice approach. My toughest times are first thing in the morning. The rest of the day goes smoothly so long as I remember to take my basals on time. I’m going to go through old posts of mine to try to remember what I did before pregnancy to get my morning numbers in check.
Yes, he is our little piggy! I actually think that he eats smaller amounts and more often. He doesn’t dawdle though – he eats in 10-15 minutes and then is ready to move on.
I’m SOOO glad that you are healing well!! Take care and give that Heart a kiss from me!
Thanks! I will!
She takes 30-45 minutes to eat. I bet they are getting the same amount of food in the long run. She’s at just over 11 lbs now. Just over 6 weeks.
You’re experiencing a completely normal transition, Marps. Every woman I know has felt that things got suddenly higher and less in control right after pregnancy, but you no longer have to worry about maintaining things quite as tightly. Ease up on yourself. I saw my A1c go from 6 at birth to 6.4 to 7.0 over the course of a year and a half (but most women I know have easily shot back into the 8s). Don’t quit trying, but also allow yourself some normal fluctuations as your body adjusts to its new normal. Between breast feeding, hormones, your uterus returning to normal size, etc, your body is still figuring things out.
I love the idea of tackling one area of the day at a time. Baby steps. Literally!
After B was born, I looked all over the internet trying to figure out if anyone suggested a baby could breastfeed TOO often. She would eat up 12-16 times per day. Even at 18 months, until the very day she quit cold turkey, we were still going strong at 8-10 times. Kiss that precious piggy and tell him he’s totally normal. B is and has always been a snacker! Hit and run, breastfeed and go, etc, etc.