Preparing for delivery
Developing a birth plan can help you feel better prepared for delivering a baby.
What is a birth plan?
If you have type 1 diabetes (T1D) and become pregnant, a birth plan is something you will want to consider.
Of course, you can’t control exactly how your baby is born. Your birth plan is more like a wish list, and you should be prepared to adapt quickly if things change during your delivery journey. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to keep both mother and baby safe and healthy.
Your birth plan can be an official document, shared with your entire healthcare team, or it may just be a discussion with your partner and OB-GYN.
For women with T1D, a big part of the birth process is diabetes management. It is important to discuss blood-sugar management with your medical team, including the diabetes technology you’ll be using (pens, pump, CGM, etc.), blood-glucose targets, and anticipated changes in your insulin needs in the immediate days after your baby is born.
Details to include in your birth plan
Below are a few questions that may help you to get started. You can build on this list as you and your partner develop your birth plan and generate your own questions:
- Do I want to receive pain medication at any time during labor, or do I prefer to give birth naturally?
- Who will manage my T1D during the labor and delivery (my partner, my doctor, someone else?)
- Will I be able to wear my insulin pump and CGM during labor and delivery?
- Do I want to breastfeed or formula feed?
- If my baby experiences a low blood-sugar level after delivery, what are my options?
- Who are the people I want present in the room during my child’s birth? Are there any restrictions on how many people can be there?
- If there is an emergency, who will make medical decisions on my behalf or my child’s behalf if I am unable to do so?
- After birth, do I have any plans for the umbilical cord and/or placenta, which can be used for T1D research, stored, or encapsulated?
Remember to be flexible and open to changing the plan to accommodate any emergencies. The most important part of the delivery day is that you and your baby are safe and healthy.
Planning for delivery with your diabetes team
Here are a few things to discuss and plan with your diabetes team before your baby’s delivery day:
- Does the hospital have a protocol in place for women with T1D using insulin pumps, CGMs, or taking multiple daily injections?
- How will your insulin needs change during labor and immediately after your baby is born?
- How will your insulin needs change in the few days following the day your baby is born?
- Should you adjust my time-in-range targets during and after delivery?
Make sure that you and your healthcare team are in agreement about how your T1D will be managed during and after the birth of your child.
More pregnancy guidance
Whether your pregnancy is planned or a surprise, there are a few steps every woman with T1D should take.
Delivering a baby when you have T1D will be similar to that of other expectant mothers but with close blood-sugar monitoring.
Things to keep in mind while you are healing, feeling sleep-deprived, and juggling T1D as a new mother.
You and your partner are embarking on a very exciting part of life: becoming parents! Learn ways to support your pregnant partner with T1D.
Pregnancy support for T1D moms
Connect with others who have gone through pregnancy with type 1 diabetes in the Breakthrough T1D Community Forum.
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