BTDT GD MOMS: Supplementing w/ Formula at Hospital

LJUTCMommy · July 2013

I am scheduled for an induction due to GD and IUGR this week. When I asked my OB what might be different for my baby as opposed to a low risk pregnancy, she said they would check the baby's blood sugars and if they were too high or low, they might want to supplement BFing with formula.

My hospital is very pro-BF and I was surprised to hear this. Why would formula be better for regulating LO's blood sugars? Did any of you who've had GD before have to do this? If so, were you still able to BF? I have been planning to EBF this whole time. Please let me know what your experiences have been. Thanks in advance!

memali26 · July 2013

The reason they may supplement is because sometimes (not always!) the colostrum isn't enough to raise the baby's blood sugar to safer levels. My first OB said it was very rare they had to supplement, and sometimes they will just use a tsp or less of sugar water instead of formula. I really would not worry about it too much. Just make sure your nurses know you want to start nursing ASAP and that it should be cleared with you before supplementing with anything.

My girls were both GD babies and neither of them had any issues with their blood sugar, even though mine was all over the place (anywhere from 55 to 200) while I was in labor with my oldest. I didn't continue BFing her, or her sister, but it was due to issues completely unrelated to my GD.

lovelyophelia · July 2013

I dealt with this with my DD. She ended up in the NICU due to her blood sugars being low. They thing most of it was due to my placenta giving up.

She supplemented for the first day. After that I began going over every 2 hours to feed her. As soon as my milk really came in things started to improve. She went home with us when we did. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

I just got the call today that I have failed again. So I am going back to the process.

memali26 · July 2013

lovelyophelia said:

I dealt with this with my DD. She ended up in the NICU due to her blood sugars being low. They thing most of it was due to my placenta giving up.

She supplemented for the first day. After that I began going over every 2 hours to feed her. As soon as my milk really came in things started to improve. She went home with us when we did. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

I just got the call today that I have failed again. So I am going back to the process.

Awesome that you've made it to 30 weeks before getting it, though!!! I'm getting tested next week, I think, and I'm just planning on failing.

LJUTCMommy · July 2013

Thank you for your responses. I will hope her sugars are good. My numbers have been OK, but a dew high ones here and there.

PipSqueak0313 · July 2013

My ds was born in March 2013. The hospital here gave me the choice of giving him about 1/2 ounce of formula or nursing him to raise his blood sugar. I chose to have dh give him the formula 1. because I had eaten very little in over 12 hours so I didn't think MY blood sugar levels would be high enough for both of us and 2. ds is dh's first child (my 3rd) and I wanted dh to have a special moment with ds.

My choice to formula feed him to raise his blood sugars had zero impact on my ability to breastfeed him.

FWIW my gd was 100% diet controlled.

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BTDT GD MOMS: Supplementing w/ Formula at Hospital

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