Type 1 Diabetes and breastfeeding

Hi Julia,
Congratulations for breastfeeding for so long, has your weight significally dropped? your hormones are still working hard and your body is working to produce your milk. I was going to suggest looking at the amount of insulin your on, perhaps you need to work out your new weight/insulin ratio? Just an idea, i'm no expert.
Suzi x

Hi Julia.
I'd like to give you a huge pat on the back too.
My name is Libby and I'm a Midwife (Mum and Nana too. My granddaughters are breast fed babies of a breast fed baby). I don't know much about diabetes and insulin, I'm T2, diet and metformin, or the insulin needs in breastfeeding, but I can throw out a few thoughts.

Breast milk is produced under the influence of hormones, the main one being prolactin. Insulin is also needed, see; http://www.breastfeedingbasics.org/cgi- ... ology.html

As your daughter gets older, the volume of breastmilk she takes may be much less, at times much more.
It's multi-factorial. Age, diet, growth, time, work, comfort, health, etc as you probably know by now. It could be that the varying volume of milk taken has an effect on your BS.

Don't let anyone tell you that breastfeeding past a certain age has no benefit. You know what the benefits are, you see that every day.
There are a few lactation consultants with specialist knowledge in the UK, they may be able to support you and your daughter in maintaining your BS and breastfeeding until you are both ready to stop.
http://www.lcgb.org/
http://www.laleche.org.uk/
http://www.feedingbaby.co.uk/

Libby

HI Julia,
I am T1, but I have onl been breastfeeding for 6 months...so a mere novice! To be honest, I know that breastfeeding does affect your hormones, and therefore your diabetes, but in my own case, it doesn't have any more impact than my monthly cycles etc. I was going to sugest that maybe at 15 months, your little gorl isn't having as much milk from you, so the impact that breastfeeding has on your indulin requirments is being diminished? I don't know if it is the breastfeeding itsef that is sending your bloodsugars alittle awry. It is very difficult to say though! My consultant told me to keep my bloodsugar level high (around 7 or 8) before meals. I have to admit, I didn't pay much attention tothis as my control is not so great that I can actually keep it at at a particular level, I either try my best..or I don;t, and then try and get my levels as low as possible without being hypo. My last HBA1C was 7.6, which one dDr was really pleased with, and another said was too high. I agree that itwas too high, but it does show that even the experts are a little unsure when it comes to this. If you have been breastfeeding for 15 months, then I would say that you are the expert in this, and also in what your little girl needs. If you think that the breast feeding is the problem, then stop, and do not feel guilty or bad about doing so. Personally, I would try all the things I could beofre stoping the bf, ie adjusting my doses etc. I really admire you for bothbf'ing for 15 months and keeping your HBA1C down to 7..even if you are not happy with 7 (and I understand this too) it is still an achievement.

Not sure my ramble has helped though!

Hi Julie,
Just thought i'd tell you about my breastfeeding experience, though i'm not diabetic (my son is). I breastfeed my 1st son for 17 months then stopped because i'd fell pregnant with my 2nd son. Although i was 8weeks pregnant before i stopped completely and it was a case of cold turkey for both of us (think i found it more upsetting than he did!) With Andrew (he's the diabetic 1) i breastfeed for 26months (some find that horrific!!) but for around the last 9months it was only ever a night feed and was for comfort, and as i was happy with 2 children i milked it for all it was worth ( sorry no pun intended)
Breastfeed for as long as you feel comfortable but not at the risk to your health and bg's your little girl has had the most fantastic start in life and if you choose to finish feeding don't feel guilty. They say that after around 6months your breast milk hasn't the same nutritional values as the previous milk, perhaps that's why weaning is now suggested at that age and not before 6months. The other reason i also decided to stop the 1st time other than being pregnant,(in 1800's mothers would feed 2 children of different ages whilst pregnant) my weight dropped to 8st 10lb which made me look anorexic as my heathly weight was 9st 8lb. Unfortunately i never did loose weight 2nd time round and after giving up smoking 8yrs ago put on a furhter 2st.(never smoked during pregnancies)
Goodluck with whatever you do and take care
Suzi x

WHO recommends breast feeding for two years. The myth that breast milk has no real nutritional value after 6 months is a nice little earner for formula companies, who convince us babies need 'follow-on' artificial milk. It also means women are able to get back to the workplace, a bonus for the government and employers. Me? Cynical? I wonder how the human race survived over the last few million years without C&G?

Sorry, one of my soap-box issues. I hate the fact that artificial formula is accepted as completely normal. It has it's place but not for over 90% of the population. My other soap-box issue is fast becoming the topic of diet for diabetics.

Julia, I think instinct is the most powerful thing we have. Enjoy your feeding time with your girl. It's the one thing I miss the most and my youngest is 23!

(ps. don't anybody worry about feeding more than one child at a time. It's ok and helps to keep up a good supply for the littlist one)

wiflib

Well Wiflib,
nobody recommends breast feeding for two years, but i chose to, why, because i found it a great comfort. I looked after my sick mother whilst pregnant, then when Andrew was 17 months old, she died. For the following 9months i breastfed him a night feed, with my memories and my sorrow, and it helped. It didn't do him any harm and he never looked for a bottle or dummy.
Suzi

Fantastic isn't it. I ended breast feeding with my daughter at 8 months and my son ended his at a year. I cried for weeks and I still miss it. There is something overwhelmingly powerful about breast feeding.
My apologies though, I used the acronym, WHO. This is the World Health Organisation. They are the ones who advise breast feeding for two years and any Midwife worth her salt will agree wholeheartedly.
As you say, your Andrew will have not come to any harm at all, on the contrary, he will probably have benefited hugely from sharing all your emotions at such a close time.

The oft written about benefits don't begin to cover the emotional and psychological aspects of it, which you have experienced at such an awful time in your life. I have tried to covey the feelings with words over the years, but I will leave that to someone more articulate and poetically adept then me.

wiflib

Hi Wiflib,
My sincere apologies i took the 'WHO', completely out of context and thought you were having a soap box moment please forgive me. Yes there's times when i look back and wish my boys were still of an age to breastfeed, especially Andrew,i take comfort knowing that i breastfed him,but he still became diabetic . I did everything right, no dummy , no tinned/jars of baby food, everthing was homemade, there was obviously greater powers at work, perhaps it was in the genes, one of lifes mysteries!!
Anyway enough sentiment, i have a birthday party to get up for in the morning, Andrew's 10th birthday and family to sunday lunch, then 15 school friends for a party at home on monday(i must be mad
Suzi x