Diabetes, Type 2 - vent
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes as a teenager. I hadn't been taking the best care of myself lately and my sugars were running extremely high when I found out I was pregnant.
I went to the OB/GYN I'd seen in the past, even though I don't like her, because I got scared I was have having a miscarriage after some spotting. I got a rude internal exam and never so much as a "you're in the clear" as far as not losing the baby goes. At a follow-up for an ultra-sound, I finally told her I was not planning on seeing her or her practice again. She tried to talk me out of it and made me feel small while I danced around the point that I don't like her on a personal level. But I stuck to my guns because I had already made an appointment with a certified nurse-midwife group for this week.
The CNMs are part of a larger OB/GYN practice. I know the Diabetes makes me high risk, but I wanted to see if we could work out any arrangements for care-team for my baby and I that have me go to specialists for extra care but so long as I didn't have any urgent conditions come up (like pre-eclampsia), I could deliver with the midwives. A doula friend tried to reassure me that they would do that.
The original OB had referred me to an endocrinologist who immediately put me on a strict schedule of insulin and who is promising to be aggressive with me to keep my baby healthy. I'm doing tons better and it's only been 2 weeks. At my follow-up with him just yesterday, we talked about the fact that I was going to switch and he said that his office referred patients to the same OB/GYN practice that I wanted to see the CNMs at. I thought it was a sign that I was going to be able to get care through that practice.
Well, I called today about my appointment for tomorrow and the receptionist said, "oh Mrs. Saltymama! I was just going to call you." I got kind of excited thinking that it was going to be a good thing. It wasn't. The CNMs saw my charts from my old OB and will not take me. Okay, I get that - I'm high risk... but neither with their OB/GYN associates. I cannot at all go with that group. I was so frustrated with my old OB that I pinned all these expectations on this group and I can't even come in for an appointment!
I want a healthy baby and I would prefer a low-intervention, medicine-free birth. I'm so scared that I won't find anyone with recommendations as good as the OB/GYN-CNM practice. And now I'm going to have to wait longer to continue my care while I try to find someone in the city who will take me that isn't part of the old OB/GYN practice.
Does anyone else have experience with type 2 (not GD) while pregnant? Any good stories? Blogs? Online resources? I need reassurance tonight.
Re: Diabetes, Type 2 - vent
I am kind of in a similar situation. I was diagnosed as Type 2 about 3 years ago and for the first year was vigilant regarding diet and blood sugars. Then I got slack. Then in September I found out I was 22 weeks pregnant. I had not planned on having any more children but it happened. I only had a GYN as I had not planned on having anymore babies.
There are 2 large OB practices and town and one single practitioner & of course the 'free clinic'. I used the first large practice with DS#1 and disliked them (14 years ago) so I had my heart set on practice number 2. My doctors sent my records over and they called me - the woman called and all she told me was the doctor said no. No reason given - I am sure it is because I am T2, 39 years old & had lacked in prenatal care. My GYN did get me in to see the high-risk doctors who assured me practice number 1 had changed a lot. I looked over the doctor list and all of the ones from before were gone so I agreed to be referred there. They took me with no problems and so far, so good.
Since I am so far along I see OB every 2 weeks & right now the high-risk every 4 weeks for ultrasound and fax my blood sugar log in weekly for review. They put me on 2.5mg Glyburide 2x a day which has kept me in excellent control (as long as I eat properly). So far no problems for me - I can tell that being pregnant at 39 is a little tougher than at 25. I do get tired a little quicker but that is it.
Best of luck in finding a doctor who will work with you.
I'm so sorry you're going through all these frustrations.
I have T2 (for 11 years) and this is my second pregnancy. I'm fortunate that in my city there are many, many ob/gyns and two perinatology groups as well as a very large endocrinology practice.
I'm seeing the same OB who delivered my son. I was diet/exercised controlled until I got pregnant with my son and then went on insulin during the pregnancy. My pregnancy was pretty normal (no preterm labor, no pre-eclampsia, no major health issues with the baby.) My OB was open to all possibilities with re: to delivery but due to the nature of being a pre-existing diabetic, she does err on the side of caution. I was induced at 38 weeks and delivered my son via c-section for failure to progress. It wasn't what I had originally planned, but my OB, her nurses, my peri, all the people on my care team really made it the best experience for me.
This pregnancy was planned as well and I had been on medication prior to getting pregnant (metformin, glipizide, and Byetta).
As soon as I got my BFP, I got a referral to the endo. I worked with her to get my numbers down to non-diabetic normal ranges during the first tri, then my endo switched my care (at her suggestion) to the peri's office. I currently work with a peri (who manages my diabetes) and my OB. Both are supportive, caring, not at all intimidated by diabetes in pregnancy, and available to me at any time I have questions/concerns. I'm on much more insulin this go than with my son, but that's the nature of the beast. I've chosen to have a repeat c-section rather than VBAC, but my OB is very VBAC supportive as is her entire practice.
Having a low intervention, med free birth is totally possible with diabetes, but it takes extreme diligence on your part to make sure your blood sugar stays in the normal, non-diabetic range. You also have to be aware that having T2 puts you at a higher risk for pre-eclampsia and preterm labor. That doesn't mean you can't have the birth you want, but rather means that you have to be open to the possibility of an induction, if indicated, or a c-section, if necessary.
It's also important to get connected with an OB who supports your wishes as well as a perinatologist.
Diabetic Mommy has some great resources, a wonderful forum of pregnant women with T1,T2, and GD as well as articles on having the birth you want.
Good luck! I hope this pregnancy goes well for you and you find a care provider who you mesh with.