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| Little bitty 10 week baby bump! |
I got a huge pep talk about making sure that my blood glucose levels stay "controlled" throughout the pregnancy and some of the risks of uncontrolled levels on the baby. Namely, the risk is that the baby will take in all that sugar and just.get.BIG. Meaning I would have to have a C-section. Or, the baby could be birthing size (my technical jargon), but the lungs are not fully developed and would then have to spend time in the NICU after birth. Or another option: the baby has been so used to using tons of insulin to process all my excess glucose that it continues pumping it out at that rate and when its born it goes low. I'm not wishing for any of these scenarios, folks.
Actually, I've always planned for as natural of a birth as possible--no inducing, no epidurals, nothing invasive. Even with diabetes, I'd still like everything to progress as naturally as possible. However, I have to remember that I'm working in a body that isn't functioning as it naturally should. I should be making my own insulin, but I'm not. And my worth as a mother, a wife, and just a person is not tied to how I give birth. What matters is what is best for our baby. The doctor also informed me that I will NOT go past my due date, due to the risk of the baby being so big.
So, being a Type 1 and considered a high risk pregnancy, what else will I need to do? First thing, I will be at the doctor every 2 weeks, until I reach 32 weeks--then I'll be there twice a week. Also, after 28 weeks I get an ultrasound every 4 weeks. My anatomy scan will be done at a high risk facility. After my first doctor appointment they drew 6 vials of blood for various tests and a basic metabolic panel. And, here was the real fun "to-do"--I had to provide a 24 hour urine specimen to measure my renal function. What fun! Moving on . . .
After finding all that out at my first appointment, we moved on to the fun part--the first ultrasound! Butterbean was measuring at 2.05 cm, and I was estimated to be 8 weeks 5 days--as little more ahead of schedule than we originally thought, which is fine by me!
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| 8 weeks 5 days and growing like a weed! |
My second appointment was 2 days later--meeting with a nutritionist, bringing in my 24 hour urine specimen, and meeting briefly with a doctor. The nutritionist looked over a day long food log--since I just got it 2 days before! She asked me about what I ate, how my blood sugars normally were, what vitamins am I taking, yada yada yada. I was to report back to her in 4 weeks with a more extensive food log and we'd see how things were going. The lab lady took a fresh vial of blood to deliver with my urine specimen. Then we met with the doctor--it consisted of introductions, did we have any questions (no), it was nice to meet you, see you later.
Now that we had done the ultrasound and I wouldn't have another until my anatomy scan, I had no idea what to expect in subsequent doctor appointments. What did they possibly do?
Well, yesterday was the first of those not-knowing-what-to-expect appointments. And can I say, it was worth it!? Listen for yourself . . .
Yes, we got to hear Butterbean's heartbeat!! It was healthy and strong. I ugly cried. It was basically one of the best moments ever. I can't believe there's a tiny little heart beating inside me!!!
Aside from taking my vitals and getting another lecture about how important blood glucose control is, that was the gist of the whole appointment. Hello--that was plenty!!! And I have no idea what to expect at the next one. I'll be 12 weeks at that point.
We're just taking things as they come. Whatever it takes to make sure this Little One is as healthy as possible. I'm looking forward to all that God will do through this little life He is knitting together in my womb!
Standing in awe,
Lindsey
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