Labor of Love: My Journey With Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy

A few weeks before my due date, I went into the hospital  for my routine check up with the high risk clinic. I was surprised to hear that even though my blood sugars were well controlled, things could change quickly and all diabetics need to be induced no later than week 39 of gestation. 

With this sudden change in the birth plan, I was admitted (thankfully, with my husband by my side), and was induced on a Tuesday night. I was in labor for 3 days and had so many wires, tubes and devices hanging off me, I felt like a marionette. 

Although my family wasn’t allowed to come to the hospital, I FaceTimed them endlessly over those few days which kept my spirits up. Memorably, one of my video chats with my niece and nephews resulted in me laughing so hard that my water spontaneously broke while we were waiting for the doctor to rupture it manually.

In Good Time 

Although my water breaking was a welcomed development, I wasn’t progressing fast enough. I spiked a fever and the doctors became eager to get my daughter delivered ASAP. At 10:00am, I was told that if I wasn’t fully dilated in the next hour, I would be taken into the OR for an emergency cesarean section. When the doctors returned for my hourly evaluation, I began to feel a deep pressure. They checked and I was fully dilated, narrowly missing the threat of surgery. 

At lucky 11:11am, my daughter Monroe was placed on my chest after only 10 minutes of pushing. I was gradually released from the heap of monitors and IVs and a mental weight was lifted. All of the anxiety, stress and emotions of the pregnancy led to this blissful moment as I cradled her singing the ABCs.

It was all worth it, and furthermore, it prepared me for the pregnancy of my son, Miles, a short 15 months later. Little did I know how similar the pregnancy would be…as we were still in the midst of the pandemic.

Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story About Type 1 Diabetes

As my kids grow older and more curious, I’m anticipating lots of questions around our daily routine managing my diabetes. During my pregnancy with Monroe, I decided to create something that could help us have a positive conversation about my medical condition. Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story About Type 1 Diabetes is an inspirational, children’s picture book which includes a glossary of common terms and a main character with a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). Most importantly, it shares an encouraging message: it is possible to lead a healthy and happy life with Type 1 Diabetes. My hope is for this book to inspire kids, with and without diabetes, to learn about the condition in order to promote inclusivity and an understanding that we are not defined or limited by Type 1 Diabetes. 

From a mom who knows firsthand how challenging it can be to explain Type 1 Diabetes, here are some tips for starting the conversation:

1. Explain diabetes in simple, but uplifting terms. That it’s a manageable condition and that diabetics are able to lead long, healthy and happy lives by making healthy choices.
2. Emphasize that when someone has type 1 diabetes, it’s not their fault and they didn’t cause it in any way. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that prevents the body from creating insulin. It isn’t caused by poor diet or lack of physical activity.
3. Openly educate and inspire ways to develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise. Make it a fun routine in which the whole family participates. After all, it’s important for everyone to make healthy choices, not just diabetics. 
4. Reassure them that finger pricks and injections might seem intimidating, but they come with many benefits and aren’t scary. 
5. Instill confidence that the condition isn’t something that needs to be hidden. There is a large community of diabetics along with celebrities and influencers, like Nick Jonas, Robin Arzón, and Jay Cutler, who speak openly about Type 1 Diabetes.

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