Proactive Steps Lead to Beautiful Outcomes
Taylor Morris was determined that her second pregnancy would be different from her first. She was motivated to manage her diabetes.
Taylor had learned that, as a woman with diabetes, her condition presents challenges for both her and her baby. And this time she was going to take every step she could.
During her first pregnancy, Taylor had a difficult time managing her medication levels – making it tough for her to keep her blood sugar levels under control. In the end, her son Steven was born with one kidney, a defect in one of his heart valves, and a tethered spinal cord.
Taylor says, “We don’t know what’s genetic or what’s from the diabetes.” But one thing she did know was that when she and her husband were ready to have their second child – their daughter Olivia – she wanted to make sure her blood sugars were regulated in advance, “so we knew we weren’t going to have similar complications. And if we did, we would know it’s not related to the diabetes.”
She wanted thoughtful, carefully coordinated care. She needed peace of mind. She found Glencoe Regional Health (GRH).
That started with meeting Kristen Budahn, MD, FAAFP. “When possible, women with diabetes should talk to their provider before pregnancy to make sure their diabetes is optimally controlled before trying to get pregnant,” says Dr. Budahn. “We can avoid a lot of complications if it’s well-controlled pre-pregnancy.”
Taylor met with Dr. Budahn regularly to monitor her blood sugars and adjust her insulin as needed. She also continued her three-month A1C checks to make sure her blood sugar levels were where they should be.
Initially, Taylor’s pre-pregnancy was at a high 13. But “I was motivated,” she says. “I really wanted that baby.” So, within three months she had brought that level down to just 6.
One key GRH ally in that fight was diabetes educator Melissa Trebesch, RD, LD, CDCES. “My approach with Taylor was really to appreciate what she already knew,” says Melissa. “I listened to the issues she was having with her blood sugars and problem-solved with her to find the best solutions. She was very determined to have a baby, and she worked hard for months to control her blood sugar before getting pregnant. Then she did amazing during her pregnancy and always had a positive attitude.”
Part of the process for Taylor and Melissa was identifying foods that could be contributing to higher blood sugar levels. “When you have diabetes, you should not have to give up all the foods you love,” says Melissa. “Instead of cutting them out entirely, Taylor watched portions and took additional insulin to better cover those foods.”
Because Taylor worked in varying shifts at her job, it was difficult to determine the timing of meals and insulin, as she was sleeping and eating at different times from day to day and week to week.
“Taylor ended up with a lot of different insulin prescriptions throughout her pregnancy that many people would not have been able to follow,” says Melissa. “But she did an amazing job with her insulin management. She was willing to do anything she needed to do for the health of her baby.”
Because her pregnancy was high-risk due to her diabetes, Taylor was induced in May 2019 to avoid pushing past her due date. “My experience [at GRH] was really relaxed,” Taylor says. “It wasn’t chaotic, it wasn’t stressful. It was so different than my first delivery. Here, it was just a really calm, good experience.”
Having the opportunity to welcome babies like Olivia into the world and helping moms like Taylor along their pregnancy journey is Dr. Budahn’s favorite part of her practice. “Delivering a baby is one of the most rewarding parts of medicine,” she says, “because you help welcome new life into the world. I love that families trust me to partner with them during this amazing time in their lives.”
After her delivery, Taylor and Dr. Budahn have continued to make adjustments to her diabetes medications, and both Taylor and Olivia are happy and healthy.
“Taylor is an awesome mom to her beautiful children!” confirms Dr. Budahn. “She is attentive to their needs and is focused on caring for her own health, too.”
For her part, Taylor couldn’t be happier. “Throughout my experience [at GRH], Dr. Budahn just helped me to remember that it was all going to be okay – I was going to have a healthy baby and everything was going to be good. I started to worry toward the very end, but she reassured me. I’m so glad I chose to come to Glencoe.”
