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After Pregnancy |
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Pre existing Diabetes |
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What happens once my baby has been born?
You will have increased your insulin doses during the pregnancy. After the baby is delivered, you will return to your pre pregnancy dose of insulin or slightly less. During the delivery a pump and a drip may sometimes be used to deliver insulin so that rapid changes can be made to the dose. This will be stopped after delivery once you have had your first dose of your insulin. Your diabetes specialist team will discuss this with you.
If you were on tablets for your diabetes before pregnancy, starting these again will need to be discussed with your diabetes team, especially if you are breast feeding.
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Do I need to be seen again once I go home?
You will have a post-natal check when your baby is about 6 weeks old. You will be seen by both the diabetes and obstetric team at this appointment. You will then be referred back to your diabetes tem who you saw prior to pregnancy.
One of the most important issues at your post-natal check is contraception. Remember that breast-feeding is NOT a reliable form of contraception and you will need to find a reliable method that suits you.
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What if I want to become pregnant again?
When you have diabetes it is always best to plan a pregnancy. If you would like to discuss this please contact your diabetes team.
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Gestational Diabetes |
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What happens once my baby has been born?
As soon as your baby is born any treatment you have taken for your diabetes will stop. You will be asked to monitor your blood glucose levels pre meals until seen by the diabetes team on the ward.
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How will I know if the diabetes has gone away?
You will be given an appointment for another Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 6 weeks following delivery. The results from this will tell you if the diabetes has gone away and will be discussed with you.
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Do I need to do anything else?
It is recommended that you have a fasting blood glucose test done ever year at your GP practice. Having Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 50%. You can reduce your risks by keeping a healthy weight for your height and keeping physically fit.
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Will it happen again?
If you are planning another pregnancy it is recommended that you have a fasting blood glucose done before you get pregnant. If you are able to make lifestyle changes before you become pregnant as recommended during your previous pregnancy you can reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes again. You will be monitored closely in any future pregnancy.
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Some Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy |
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What if I have an unplanned pregnancy? Don't panic. These things do happen, and although it is better to plan if possible, there are also things we can do to help if you come to us in early pregnancy. Let us know as soon as possible after your positive pregnancy test and we will give you advice and help on an individual basis.
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Will my baby get diabetes? It is very very rare for a baby to develop diabetes. There is a small increase in the lifetime risk of developing diabetes, but not enough that anyone should be put off having a family for this reason. If a baby's mother has Type 1 diabetes, the baby has a chance of around 2 in a hundred of developing diabetes by the age of 20. Interestingly, there is a slightly greater risk if the baby's father has diabetes (around 6 per hundred), and greater still if both parents have diabetes.
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Can I have a normal labour? Many women will be able to have a normal labour and delivery. We would never recommend that a woman with diabetes could have a home birth. When you are in labour most women will need an insulin and glucose drip to keep the blood glucose stable. This can be done in the normal delivery rooms at the hospitals, and your partner/family member can of course be present if you wish.
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Will I need a Caesarean Section? It is by no means inevitable, but statistically you are more likely to need a caesarean birth. This is mostly because the babies of mothers with diabetes tend to be big and are sometimes difficult to deliver normally.
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Will my baby need Special Care? Again, it is not inevitable. Some babies of diabetic mothers have a low blood sugar after birth, so the baby's blood sugar will need to be checked regularly. Usually they just need extra feeding, but sometimes a baby with a low blood sugar will need a glucose drip in which case they will need to stay on the Special Care Baby Unit until the glucose level is normal. If this happens, you should still be able to breast-feed and will be able to bond with your baby.
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