I am glad that I braved pregnancy with diabetes
I am 51 years old and I have had diabetes since I was 14. I have been pregnant three times and have two children: a daughter aged 14 and a son aged 8. My second pregnancy ended at 23 weeks.
The pregnancies were not easy. I was very sick from 7 to 17 weeks and never 'bloomed'. Eating was difficult and diabetic control was hard work. I was constantly fighting to keep my blood glucose up and I had some difficult hypos. I woke up once in my bedroom to find two policemen watching me nervously and two paramedics covered in scratches; the policemen had broken into the house and, having been found, I apparently fought with the paramedics and swore loudly as they attempted to get a drip in. I could not be left alone for long periods as the hypos were unpredictable. After 17 weeks the sickness went and I worked hard to keep my blood glucose stable. I could not drive.
My pregnancies were monitored at the Pregnancy Assessment Centre (PAC) at the local hospital. PAC was for women with a medical condition that affects pregnancy. The service was very good and I attended clinics held jointly between the obstetricians and the consultant for diabetes. I also had 24-hour access to a diabetes community nurse.
My children were both born by Caesarean section at 38 weeks and weighed around 8lbs. Both had low blood glucose at birth.
My daughter was taken to the Special Care Baby Unit and tube fed. I only saw her for half an hour in the following two days. I spoke to a midwife about the policy on the day I left hospital and she said 'But we always take diabetic’s babies away'. Breastfeeding was difficult to establish as a result.
I went into hospital determined to fight when my son was born, but the policy had changed. This time the baby was placed on my chest and covered with a blanket and I held him there asleep all day. He only left me for 'top-up' feeds.
I had read an article that suggested that breastfeeding could help to prevent diabetes and I went a bit overboard. I fed both children until they were four years old!
The feeling of responsibility towards the developing baby made pregnancy very stressful and the sickness made it very difficult. However, I am glad that I braved pregnancy with diabetes, but I am also glad that I will never have to go through it again! 
August 2008