A Sugar Free Bun In The Oven

By Alissa Evelyn

One mum shares here diabetic pregnancy journey - from pregnancy to birth with type 1 diabetes.

If you're a type 1 diabetic and hoping to get pregnant, or already pregnant, discover Alissa's journey from pregnancy to birth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hope Books
• Release date: Dec 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386743439

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A Sugar-free Bun in the Oven

From Pregnancy to Birth to Motherhood with Type 1 Diabetes

By Alissa Evelyn Hankin

Copyright & Disclaimer

The opinions expressed here are based on my own thoughts, knowledge, and experiences. The contents of this book are not intended to be a substitute for consulting with your doctor or physician. Neither the author nor publisher shall be responsible or liable for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or contents of this book.

All Rights Reserved  © 2017 Alissa Hankin

All material is copyright of Alissa Hankin unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Part One: The Discovery and The Choice

Peeeeeeete! came my voice from the little toilet room in our home. It was a quiet voice, steady but excited.

It was the third pregnancy test I had taken since we started trying, and there was a faint blue cross appearing on it for the first time. The first test I took way before I should have, about a week and a half before the beginning of my next cycle (I was too excited to wait, even though nothing would show), and the second I had taken about 4 days before (because that’s when the shop-bought test I had would be about 40% accurate).

My husband Pete came down the hallway, whilst doing his regular morning tooth-brushing ritual, and asked if everything was ok. I paused, waited a few more seconds, opened and closed my eyes a few times to make sure I was reading the thing correctly and said I think I’m pregnant, I think it’s a blue cross, then I opened the door to ask him to confirm.

My nurse had seemed very confident that we’d conceive first time, I’m not sure how they could tell, but I suppose they’ve seen their fair share of couples. A few of my friends had said that they also conceived first time, and to my astonishment I believe the statistics currently lie at about one third of all conceptions taking place within the first month (a statistic that we both furiously researched once we started trying!).

It wasn’t a super easy decision to start trying, instead there was quite a lot of back and forth between us for the previous two years. But, when we made the decision it did feel totally right for both of us.

My husband had been very practical about the whole thing (one of the things I admire so much in him, but similarly frustrates because I don’t think very practically!), and he suggested that we wait until we’d got the house in order and more savings in the bank. My perspective was that I would have liked to have started a family a year or so into marriage, and I was convinced that there was no ‘right’ time to have a family (I’m still convinced that this is true).

The decision was also complicated by the fact that I have Type 1 Diabetes, an auto-immune condition that means that I have to inject insulin about 3-5 times a day, because my body does not produce any by itself.

There have been a couple of things that have made me think really seriously about whether it’s a responsible decision to have a child. Firstly, that movie called ‘Steel Magnolias’ – I shan’t ruin the plotline for you if you haven’t seen it, but let’s just say that it doesn’t accurately depict diabetes and is a scary thing to watch if you aren’t really informed of what diabetes care is like in the 21st century (so maybe just don’t watch it at all?).

The second thing that made me think was a horrid comment I once had on a video I made for YouTube. It was a man who commented that I should never reproduce because I might spread my diabetes. I really should never have taken this comment on board, but I couldn’t help it. I am a relatively soft and sensitive person, and so it hurt. The idea that something I didn’t ask to happen to me, that I didn’t cause, that science still doesn’t really understand what causes it, should affect my decision on whether I should reproduce upsets me.

However, as no-one quite know what it is that causes diabetes, there is no evidence to show that a woman with Type One Diabetes having a baby will definitely produce a child with Type One Diabetes.

Thirdly, the statistics show that there are increased risks with Type One Diabetics in pregnancy – an increased risk of pretty much everything, but particularly there’s a greater risk of a larger baby (due to increased sugar in the bloodstream), which can cause issues giving birth. Because of fluctuations in glucose levels during birth and other factors, many diabetic women deliver by caesarean section, which carries risks of its own. There are also risks in the development of the child, including greater risks of defects and problems of all kinds.

Anyhow, I’d read up on diabetes and pregnancy, on various blogs and websites, downloading guides and advice, and trying to get some insight into how difficult it would be. I’d asked a friend of mine with Type One for advice also, and as a mother she didn’t seem to think it was a huge problem, rather she spoke more of ailments and complaints that are common to all pregnant mums.

So, we decided to not let the diabetes stand in the way, and go for it! If we had a child with diabetes, we decided they couldn’t be in better hands, and also, that the medical system was so advanced and so knowledgeable with