World first for NNUH mum

As anticipation grows for the imminent announcement of the birth of a new royal baby, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has its own newborn announcement – and a world first, at that!

This morning saw the arrival of baby Euan to mother, Catriona Finlayson-Wilkins. Ms. Finlayson-Wilkins, who lives in Norfolk, has Type 1 Diabetes, but she used a cutting-edge artificial pancreas to produce insulin throughout the duration of her pregnancy, and has now become the first woman in the world to give birth naturally with the use of the technology.

She is also the first mum using the device to give birth outside the main research site at Cambridge University Hospitals (three other mothers have previously given birth, but these were via caesarian section).

Dr Helen Murphy, the Principal Investigator of the study in which Ms. Finlayson-Wilkins participated, said that the new arrival represented an exciting step forward in the treatment of diabetes in pregnancy.

“Diabetes is the most common medical condition in pregnancy. Women who have diabetes in pregnancy face higher rates of birth defects, oversized babies, preterm delivery and stillbirth than other pregnant women,” Dr Murphy said.

“Treating diabetes in pregnancy can be particularly challenging because hormone levels are constantly changing and blood sugars can be difficult to predict.

“The artificial pancreas is an exciting new technology that may help us to treat diabetes in pregnancy and create a group of healthier mothers and babies.

“We are pleased to partner with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to be able to conduct this exciting research,” she said.

The NIHR’s Closed Loop in Pregnancy study, under which this technology is being tested, is ongoing and its results are expected to be published later this year. If the findings are positive, this may pave the way for this technology to become available for more women with diabetes who conceive in the future.