Breastfeeding

Hi @DCUKMod My gestational went once daughter popped out so didn't have to deal with hypos and breast feeding.

The best advice I can offer is to simply keep a close eye on your levels and monitor the effect of feeds, you need to ensure you are eating enough carbs to sustain milk supply, am sure your DSN can give you some guidance on this and perhaps even offer a Libre to help you monitor this without stopping to test so often.

I did indeed breastfeed and yes as the baby is using a fair few carbs things can be interesting. My nurse did occasionally mutter ‘just eat some cake’ at me! Anyway, as @DCUKMod says monitor a lot, have food close at hand and overall enjoy it as much as you can. It’s super for bonding with your baby and I totally believe it is great for their health. Perhaps ask for Libre while feeding so you can easily swipe while feeding and have food/sweet drinks within reach.

DCUKMod said:

I think it was @Juicyj who knew what she was talking about.

Click to expand...

@Juicyj apologies, it was you who knows to monitor and carb up.

Breastfeeding makes getting out and about easier in my opinion, less to carry! Easy enough to pop cereal bars, sweets or whatever in the nappy bag. Anyway, try reading this link below which is useful and remember that we are all a bit different so you’ll only know once trying.
https://www.sth.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/pd3058_BreastFeedingMothersWithDiabetes[1].pdf

Hi there,

I breastfed my son for a year (five years ago) and I'm currently still exclusively feeding my almost-five-month old baby girl. I had loads of hypos both times for the first six weeks or so, but since that initial spell, I rarely have any now as things just settle down. I'm type 1, on a pump, with Libre. My bedside table was full of cartons of orange juice, cereal bars, water and Infacol those first few weeks, but it's so worth it. I can't remember how often I snacked, but I'd say through the night was probably when I needed more carbs. I love the flexibility it gives me, and as I bought a breastfeeding cover (personal preference), I feel totally relaxed to feed her anywhere (bus stop, a castle ruin - ha ha - cafes, and once when I was walking as I had to get somewhere quickly). If you can get through the first hard-going weeks, it is - in my opinion - much easier and convenient, but each to their own and you have to do what's right for you.

Best of luck.

Hi, I had hypo's when breastfeeding my daughter and as other's have said, keep testing and have food and drinks close by at home in different rooms and in your bag when out and about. Enjoy every minutes as they grow up so fast, take care.
Edtred, many congratulations

Hi Pawprints. Congratulations!
Your midwife/health visitor will know more about local breastfeeding groups - I didn’t see mine much until after baby came so you might want to phone and ask in advance if it’s the same for you.
I have T1 and breastfed my baby. Initially things were hard, but I’m still breastfeeding 2 years later so it’s definitely possible! As others have said, everyone is different but hypos are common. My insulin needs raised dramatically during pregnancy and then plummeted immediately after, so it takes a bit of getting used to. As long as you are prepared it should be fine (have lots of snacks and things to treat hypos within reach and be prepared that you might need more carb than you usually would to treat it). The worst times were when I became aware I was having a hypo just as baby wanted a feed, it goes against your motherly instinct not to respond to baby immediately!
It can sometimes take longer for your milk to come in (mine certainly took a long time but I had a c section which doesn’t help) and you might find that baby’s blood sugar will drop and the midwives might suggest formula. Don’t let it put you off, it’s entirely possible to exclusively breastfeed but it’s also possible to combination feed - you need to do what’s right for you so don’t let anyone make you feel guilty.
I found that it was hard not having anyone to talk to about what I was experiencing so get in touch and ask/rant/bask in the baby glow as often as you like.
Enjoy the amazing experience!

I'm a T1 diabetic and found no one there to help. I had lots of hypos, the trouble is I couldn't tell how much they had actually fed, and so was unable to judge if needed more carbohydrates or not. I just kept being told to eat more, but then I found that I would go high instead. Basically I had to check more frequently and in the end I breast fed at night and when someone was there and bottle fed by day when on my own with the baby. The experts said it wouldn't work and I'd end up failing. Instead of which my body adapted (eventually I stopped breast feeling by day) so I had plenty of milk in the evenings and through the night but didn't leak much by day. I did try to get on as a breast advisor as I couldn't find anyone able to really understand. However I stopped breast feeding when my youngest was 5.5 months but you have to breast feed until you reach 6 months to become an advisor!

I'm glad I did it as long as I did, and it was a real palaver but it was wonderful to have that closeness with my sons. Mixing the two methods of feeding was the best for me. You just have to work with what you have. I also lost my warning symptoms whilst pregnant, these did return but not for a few months so that really didn't make it any easier.

I've now got 2 university students who are wonderful, it was definitely worth it all. I really enjoyed breast feeding them but it was very difficult but not impossible.

Wishing you lots of luck

Hi Pawprints, I am T1 and had twins that I breast fed for seven months. Not easy but definitely possible. At every feed I settled down with a drink and something to eat and my testing kit of course. The first few weeks are always tricky but I wish you every success whether you bottle or breast feed.

La Leche League also have some specific information on breastfeeding with diabetes:

https://www.laleche.org.uk/diabetes-and-breastfeeding/

While it can be a bit of a juggling act at first, I think the changes in insulin requirements due to no longer being pregnant/hormones and trying to function on not a lot of sleep make that time challenging whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding!

Agree with what others have said about keeping a good supply of snacks you can eat one-handed close by. Also the comments about treating a hypo taking priority over feeding baby - if there's nobody with you, making sure you treat your hypo first (even if it means baby cries for a minute) is definitely in both of your interests.

Good luck.

Sorry to tag on to this late, new to posting on here do not sure whether to join older conversations or start a new topic...
I'm currently breastfeeding my wee girl (she is 12 weeks tomorrow). I was hoping to express milk for days I might need my mum to babysit and for when I go back to work but, unless the milk was expressed that day, my daughter refuses it.
I was reading about high lipase and how it is related to the pancreas...I believe my milk may have high lipase (possibly linked to T1D but can't find evidence online)
Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice? Thanks in advance!