Newly Pregnant with Type 1, curious about when screenings will be done?

Diabetes and Pregnancy Trying to Get Pregnant
#1

So happy to finally get to join this group! I have been Type 1 for 26 years and am pregnant with my first! I wear an Omnipod and Dexcom and have been closely monitored by my Endo since I first got on my pump and CGM last year when my husband and I decided we wanted to start trying. My A1C at conception was 6.5 and I was all over the place (correcting highs very quickly), the first two weeks after finding out I was pregnant, but bloodsugars seem to finally be a little more steady. I am 6 weeks, 4 days today and go in for my first ultrasound on Friday.

So of course I'm terrified of defects and am curious at what point in my pregnancy I will have the screenings? And are any of them blood tests or will they all be through ultrasounds? Any advice would be great!

#2

Congratulations!!

Almost all of us have crazy blood sugars the first couple weeks when the hormones start rising. Often that is the sign that we are pregnant. Every woman is a bit different, but for me I rather struggled with highs until week 9, then lows weeks 9-20, highs weeks 20-33, lows weeks 33-38.

I conceived with the same A1c for my son (who is a healthy 3 year old) and conceived with a higher one now, but very quickly got it under 6.5. I never managed to have an A1c under 6, but hung out right above there so far for both pregnancies.

For me (but I live in Hungary), I had anatomical ultrasounds in weeks 12 and 18. For my first pregnancy, every high (even border line highs) caused me to panic. Now the second time around, I am slight less panicked. Of course we need to avoid highs, but really the danger is sustained highs, which someone with your level of diligence will mostly be able to avoid.

#3

#4

hi and congratulations on your excellent news.

I am T1 for almost seven years. I was dxed in my first pregnancy as T1, believe it or not. Failed the glucose tolerance test with a fasting at 337. Age 38 and what a shock! When I was diagnosed, my A1c was over 7. I knew very little about T1 back then, but from the look on my OBs face, I knew it was not good to have an A1c that high with no idea how high it had been throughout the 28 weeks I had been pregnant up to that diagnosis. Your control was good prior to conception, so that is GREAT! My baby boy was full term and big, but healthy. I went on to have twins three years later, at the age of 41. I was on omnipod and my A1c was 5.2-5.6 through the entire twin pregnancy. The twins were STILL large Twin A 7lb8oz and Twin B 6lb13oz. Huge for twins. That is how it goes with diabetes, even with a well controlled A1c.

You will have US and also the baby(ies) should undergo a fetal echocardiogram at the time of one of the Level 2 ultrasounds to rule out heart defects. A pediatric cardiologist performed all three of my babies' heart scans when I was pregnant.

One of the twins (the biggest) had some mild respiratory issues at birth). I was told that this is not unusual with maternal diabetes.

All will be well. If you have questions for me, feel free to email me directly at spartamac@mac.com.

Best,

Melissa