Pregnancy and Parenting With Type 1 Diabetes: Catching Up With Olga

It's no joke when people say that every pregnancy is different! I had one wonderful pregnancy with my son, Nikita, but this one... this one is different. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not married to the porcelain god or anything, but the nausea! Not quite strong enough to drive me to the bathroom, but not weak enough to let me just ignore it. It kind of annoyingly lingers throughout the day and at the most random of times. Has anyone experienced this? It's like that annoying mosquito that keeps buzzing in your ear. You keep swatting it away and think it’s gone, but then one minute later, there it is again.

I guess the old saying is true: try to focus on something else and you'll eventually stop thinking about what’s bothering you. Thank God for diabetes then right? :)

Other than my son, my biggest focus is diabetes management. Now let me tell you, the second time around, pregnancy is more difficult as I have to worry about myself and a toddler. My biggest hurdle and legitimate fear has always been, "if I go low in the middle of feeding/changing/taking care of my child, what do I do?" Well, that has happened several times in the last few weeks (nothing major, I was 65 or 68 but it still had to be taken care of). And let me tell you, I dropped what I was doing, drank a juice box (apple flavor, if you're wondering) and went right back to it. Did my son spaz a bit when I stopped feeding him? Yes. Did he run around without diapers for a couple of minutes while I took care of my low? Yep! But guess what, my health equals his safety.

Speaking of safety, with a toddler that is constantly yanking on my earrings or trying to choke me with my necklaces, it's uber serious that I constantly communicate to him to be gentle with his mama. I can't even imagine him yanking on my pump if it was tubed. Ouch! Accidents happen, I get that, but I am not one to run the risk of such things when I have a tubeless Pod that is neatly hidden away.

Now, when I do have it more visible (on my arm or thigh) and I see his little eyes gaze over and his chubby little hand want to touch it, I quickly remind him "baby we need to be gentle. You can't yank that or it will hurt mommy." And thank goodness he is a smart little boy because no matter what pump you use, it will hurt if someone pulls it out!

To any first time or second time diabetic mamas - I salute you! I truly do. It's already so hard being a great mom, but add in the huge component of type 1 diabetes and well... you become a super star in my eyes. Keep on tweaking your basal rates and carb ratios and boluses and keep on being the strong, wonderful you! Cheers to good health!

Written by Olga Barrett