Questions Answered

I got to see my precious baby today! Heart rate = 157. Moving around and kicking. My placenta is in the front (against my belly) so the midwife believes I won't feel him/her kick until 18-20 weeks since the baby is kicking the placenta which is acting like a cushion. That's ok...as long as I can see the heart beating and see movement, I know I'll feel it soon enough! Now, my questions:

Question #1: Should I be concerned that I have not gained much weight?

Answer: No. As long as the baby is growing, and he/she is, then I should not worry. However...I might not be gaining much weight because I am not eating enough and the baby is taking his/her nutrients from my body. The truth is I am afraid to eat, and therefore I am not eating "when I'm hungry." This is all diabetes related. My blood sugar should not go over 130, of which when I think of anything carb, my BS goes up, more or less if I eat any carbs! Yes, that is why I take insulin, to keep the BS from going high, yet that requires a shot..every time I eat (unless I am basically eating an egg, cheese, or nuts). Sometimes, you just want a handful of chips, or some watermelon, or anything without having to take a shot. The inconvenience of drawing up a syringe of insulin so I can have a fruit roll up is enough to make me refrain from eating. And there within lies my problem. It turns out that I might be starving my baby, unintentionally of course!

Solution: Eat, and take the shot. There is always more insulin, but I only have so much calcium (or whatever the baby needs) in my body.

Question #2: Will my baby be whisked away to NICU immediately after I give birth as a precaution of low blood sugar once the cord is cut?

Answer: No. That is what they use to do in the good ole days, but not anymore (unless there is another problem). It is true that babies born to mothers dependent on insulin do need to be watched more closely immediately after birth. The babies pancreas gets use to how much sugar mom has in her bloodstream and if her blood sugar is elevated, that means the baby's pancreas will produce more insulin to cope. (Insulin also acts as a steroid, so when mom's BS is high, and baby makes more insulin, this is why those babies are usually big). Once the cord is cut, that sugar supply is cut, yet the baby has already over-compensated by making more insulin which is no longer needs, creating a drop in BS, or low blood sugar. If that happens, they will put baby to breast so he/she gets sugar. If that doesn't bring baby's BS up, they will take the baby to the nursery for a bottle of sugar water. If that doesn't get the BS up, then baby goes to NICU for an IV. This all usually happens if mom has out of control BS while pregnant, which is why it is important to have good control of blood sugar (and not go over 130). Since my BS is under tight control, baby will stay with us and they will test his/her blood sugar immediately after birth and every X amount of time afterwards.

Big *sigh* of relief. Ahh...