GD Moms & Breastfeeding Right away

ncarpenter2 · June 2011

With gestational diabetes were you able to nurse right away or did they have to give the baby formula because the baby's BS was too low? Thanks.

annie11.08 · June 2011

I was able to nurse right away...the they took her away to test her sugar and get her cleaned up.

They tested her sugar every hour for 4 hours, but brought her back after 3 for me to nurse, then took her again for her final test.

Lisa Frank · June 2011

I had GD with my DS but not this last pregnancy. They did give my DS some formula because after 36 hours of labor and a c/section his sugars were very low. We were able to nurse in recovery anyway, and we had a successful bf'ing relationship after that. Don't stress

ncarpenter2 · June 2011

Good to know thanks ladies!

puterbaby · June 2011

I was able to feed her right away, but the gave her formula because her blood sugars were low. If I could do it differently I would have asked them to feed her hypoallergenic formula. It turns out she has a dairy allergy. Next time I will know better!

utlawgirl · June 2011

I nursed her right away. They took her away for the heel prick and other newborn stuff after our initial bonding time. She was a smidge on the low side, but nothing to be worried about (a little low is normal) and all subsequent readings were fine.

seanandcallie · June 2011

I wasn't GD, but would recommend that even if the doctors and yourself feel the need to give formula, if bf is important to you offer the breast as soon as possible and as often as possible. That is going to be the best in the long run for getting into a good bf relationship and help to get your milk to come in sooner.

vanfox · June 2011

I was able to nurse right away, though he didn't latch that first go. They did the heel stick test on him after and his BS was fine, so I got to try again with the LC. He did end up getting one formula supplementation but that was because he didn't have a wet diaper the first night, nothing to do with my GD (which was completely gone as soon as I gave birth).

Jennis22 · June 2011

If you don't want your LO to have any formula, they should be able to give some glucose water instead. You could ask about that.

P.S. I had GD and DS's blood sugar was just fine when he was born!

harvest-wed · June 2011

I had GD for both kids and their sugars were fine!

kellyloveszach · June 2011

I was able to breastfeed right away but his sugars were low the first and second days. They ended up using glucose water and supplementing with formula through a syringe so that he didn't have nipple confusion.