Gestational Diabetes and BreastfeedingGestational diabetes or hyperglycemia during pregnancy effects approximately 3.5% of all pregnancies.It can occur as a result of pregnancy hormone changes. These hormones can interfere with how insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar) works. Normally, a mothers pancreas adjusts to the pregnancy and releases more insulin to meet the demands of the pregnancy. But in a gestational diabetic mother, this does not happen, causing extra blood sugar to circulate in the blood stream. Many gestational diabetic moms control their blood sugars with diet while others must take prescription medications to keep blood sugars under control. All moms will begin monitoring their blood sugars with a glucometer.
1. Keep your blood sugar under control during pregnancy and during labor. 2. Reduce stress during labor 3. Breastfeed baby AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after birth: within the FIRST hour. 4. AFTER breastfeeding, perform as much skin to skin contact or Kangaroo care as possible. Continue this for the first 24- 48 hours. 5. Request the opportunity to room in with your baby. In other words, keep the baby in the room with you during your hospital stay. You are more likely to avoid "accidental" bottle feeds this way. 6.Should your baby need supplementation, ask to breastfeed 1st THEN give supplementation. 7. Consider using an alternate feeding method such as cup, syringe, spoon or finger feeding. Use bottles a LAST RESORT only. In summary, having gestational diabetes does not mean you will not be able to breastfeed. Nor does it mean you will HAVE to supplement. It just means you will have to be extra vigilant and may have to work a little harder to avoid supplements. You can do it! Go from Gestation Diabets to Special Situations page |
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