Michelle (@ 37 weeks pregnant) with Max (four years) and Ollie (two and a half years)

Michelle (a fellow T1) is a new reader of the blog, and to my absolute amazement she found the time last week to write a guest blog. Amazing because she has two littlies and was 37 weeks pregnant at the time! Tomorrow, Michelle goes in for an elective c-section for her third baby. We wish her all the very best! Here is her story.

Hi all, my name is Michelle Cunningham and have been living with T1 diabetes since age 9 (23 years). My husband and I decided to start a family about 5 years ago. Following discussions with my specialist here in Whangarei over the previous months I tightened my control and started the old folic acid 3 months prior to conception. With stories I had heard about being diabetic and conceiving, being a nurse and having friends with difficulties getting pregnant I was certain it would take a while. First month of trying we conceived our first child, Max who is now 4. Once we had a positive result I booked in to see my specialist and the DIP (diabetes in pregnancy) nurse, what a shock to find out about all the extra testing and how tight control needed to be, also that most women end up on an insulin pump. The insulin pump frightened me the most. I didn’t want this thing attached to me 24/7, I was determined to control my sugars as best I could on my usual injections, which I did really well up until about the last couple of months when the old insulin resistance during pregnancy really begins to kick in. So gritting my teeth started this pump. Many tears I did cry the first couple of days, the line got in the way, didn’t know where to put the pump when I was sleeping plus many more hurdles to overcome (minor really when I think about it now).

Many, many scans, DIP specialist appointments and obstetrician appointments. My first obstetrician scaring the bejeebers out of me, saying that because I was diabetic my baby would more than likely miscarry or be born with defects – thank goodness I was a nurse and had some understanding because if I hadn’t have been I’m not sure what I would have done. Note : that obstetrician no longer works in NZ. Scans and everything going well I was booked in for an induction at 38 weeks. 12 and half hours of labour and ended up with an emergency c-section (due to Max turning on me) we had this wonderful baby boy, 7lbs 13 oz.

My second son, again really tight control and 3 months of folic acid prior to conception. Started the insulin pump as soon as I found out I was pregnant as I wanted the best possible control I could have and knew from previous experience that this was the best way to achieve this. Scans and everything went really well and was booked for trial of labour again at 38 weeks. Ended up having a c-section again as labour didn’t really start after 4 hours of induction, my choice to trial again later that day or go for c-section. We decided c-section for a number of reasons which in the end was the best decision. However meant any further pregnancies I would be booked in for c-section. Ollie (now 2.5) was born 8lbs 9 oz.

And now here I am sitting here with just one day to go until baby number 3 arrives. Again the tight control and folic acid, pregnant straight away and go the insulin pump!! Things have been a little different this time around, control has been a little harder, I put this down to not having as much time to focus on my diabetes as I did the first and second time and also have had a number of colds and bugs to upset things. I have more fluid around baby and bubs looks on the larger size on the scans. Booked in for an elective c-section in tomorrow and a surprise again as to what baby number 3 is.

All in all my Hba1c through all 3 pregnancies has remained in the low 6’s which I am absolutely proud of, my boys are happy and healthy and desperately hoping baby number 3 is going to be as well.

To all out there who are wanting to have a family but are frightened for many reasons, it can be done. Having a family is about the biggest thing that makes me feel “normal”, to have something other than my health to focus on. Good luck to everyone with families and coping with diabetes or those wanting to start a family.