Contents:
- Medical Video: Pregnancy and Diabetes
- Visit a doctor
- Pre pregnancy counseling, what do you mean?
- Weight
- Lifestyle
Medical Video: Pregnancy and Diabetes
Having children needs good planning if the prospective mother has diabetes. But we have a few steps and tips for those of you who plan to have children so that your pregnancy is always healthy.
Visit a doctor
You should be diligent in consulting a doctor who treats your diabetes for about 3 to 6 months before you start the pregnancy program. Your doctor will then provide some special preparations such as:
- Take an A1c test to measure your blood sugar levels. The results will determine whether you are safe to stop taking birth control pills.
- Blood and urine tests to detect whether there are kidney complications that can affect your diabetes
- Measuring blood pressure
- Detect possible thyroid disease (if you have type 1 diabetes)
- Check cholesterol levels and blood fat levels triglycerides
- Eye test to check for glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy
- Pre-pregnancy counseling recommendations
Pre pregnancy counseling, what do you mean?
Pre-conception or pre-pregnancy counseling is counseling conducted on couples of childbearing age prior to pregnancy. For prospective mothers who have diabetes, this process is important to prepare you physically and mentally which will deliver you to a healthy phase of pregnancy. What you will discuss in this counseling with an obstetrician is:
Try to make your weight reach the ideal number before you become pregnant. If you weigh a little above the normal number, it would be better if you reduce it to avoid complications of diabetes. If you are underweight, try to gain weight to reduce the potential for giving birth to a small baby or a baby with less weight.
If you consume alcohol or smoke, you must stop all your habits. Smoking during pregnancy can affect you and the baby before and after pregnancy. When you smoke, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other poisons can enter the bloodstream and automatically affect your baby. These substances can result in:
- It is difficult for you and the baby to get oxygen
- Increase your baby's heart rate
- Increases the risk of miscarriage and death in the womb
- Increase the chances of babies born prematurely and have low body weight
- Your baby has a chance to have respiratory problems when he is born
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause disabilities such as mental retardation and physical problems.
