Type 1 mum newborn weight loss

[Ica291]

Hello!

I have a 4 week old (2nd baby) born at 37 weeks plus 3 by cesarean due to repeat hypoglycaemia from the placenta dying off.

She was 9lb4oz at birth, hba1c during pregnancy was 45-52.

She was in icu for 3 days having oxygen (had fluid on her lungs from cesarean) and they had her on a drip and then tube feeds. I think they were a bit over cautious with her as her bs was only low at birth and never after that. With both my babies, my experience is that they have no idea about type 1 diabetes and very rare to get a type 1 mum in. So they err on the side of caution with everything (nothing wrong with that)

However, my daughter lost 9.7% of her birth weight once she came to me and solely being breastfed. She has since then only put on an average of 10g per day (they want 25-35g per day) and is still not back to birth weight.

When the health visitor came, she did all her measurements and she was 75th centile for everything so perfectly in proportion. She feeds well, is content, good colour and plenty of wet and dirty nappies.

My feeling is that she was born "too big" and has lost the weight to be where she should be, and so that is why she is slow to gain the weight back.

It's just frustrating that they have an obsession over birth weight and have to tick that box despite the clinical history and mothers scenario.

My question is, has anyone had a similar experience or know of newborns of type 1 mums that lose a lot of weight as they were born pretty big?!

 

[KK123]

I think you are right and your Health visitor needs to educate herself on babies born to type 1 Mums. They tend to be bigger because they are 'sharing' the Mum's glucose levels. Once they are born it makes sense that their own system kicks in and gets them back down to 'normal'. I wasn't diabetic when I had mine so I'm sure those with more experience will be along soon but this is another example of the 'one size fits all' approach and nothing but nothing will make a person stray from the so called norm. Of course you must listen to the qualified experts but it's worth making sure that the Health visitor is liaising with your diabetes team too. x

 

[sno0opy]

I had the same issue without the diabetes to be honest. My first lost too much breast feeding, the health visitor was just doing her job and working to pretty strict guidelines. He was under and they had to take action, we got taken back into hospital, where they examined the baby, said he was fine and we should go home and weight again in a a week.

Edit: Adding - (Mine was over weight born due to fluids during long labor/E C section birth, and dropped back - but the principle is the same)

They get twitchy with weight with every one, my wife got really upset about the whole thing and i can understand it, but they are just following guidelines to protect the kid.

You will know if the baby is off, its automatic even if its your first. Just keep feeding, follow the advice given and you will be fine. Unless the baby goes downhill or their advice change i wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Ica291 The exact same happened with mine - I was induced at 37 weeks and ended up with an emergency cesarean but after birth she stayed with me as bg levels were ok but she was born at 9lb 7ozs a very healthy looking baby and with a classic fat nose that diabetic babies get, the weight fell off her for a while before she started gaining again, my care was superb as my birth ended up being fairly traumatic as lost alot of blood so had blood transfusions afterwards so don't remember exact details of how long etc, but it is typical with diabetic babies to experience weight loss as you've said they feed off our sugars, so try not to worry about this, also your mid wife will help with monitoring this.

 

[Ica291]

Thank you for the responses. The midwives have been monitoring and been fairly laid back about it because I am a second time mum and baby is happy otherwise and feeding well. Issue is, I can only be under midwife care for the first 28 days, they are checking her one last time on Monday in the hope she has put on 100g, but her average is 10g a day so don't hold out much hope for that, then they have to refer her to a pediatrician, as she will no longer be under their care.

It's all better to be safe than sorry, I'm just frustrated because it's all a faff and I don't live anywhere near a hospital and I have a toddler so appointments that are tick box exercises are very inconvenient.

I am glad that some of you have had similar experiences with the weight loss. She was such a chunk when she came out and she looks like a normal bub now. I think it causes unnecessary worry and panic in the mum when they obsess over weight and I genuinely don't want to top up with formula as I'll end up giving up breastfeeding, which is what happened with my first (he had no weight issues but they told me to combi feed from the word go). I've managed to stay on top of blood sugars this time whilst breastfeeding, with thanks to pump and libre, so I'd love to bf for at least 6 months.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Thank you for the responses. The midwives have been monitoring and been fairly laid back about it because I am a second time mum and baby is happy otherwise and feeding well. Issue is, I can only be under midwife care for the first 28 days, they are checking her one last time on Monday in the hope she has put on 100g, but her average is 10g a day so don't hold out much hope for that, then they have to refer her to a pediatrician, as she will no longer be under their care.

It's all better to be safe than sorry, I'm just frustrated because it's all a faff and I don't live anywhere near a hospital and I have a toddler so appointments that are tick box exercises are very inconvenient.

I am glad that some of you have had similar experiences with the weight loss. She was such a chunk when she came out and she looks like a normal bub now. I think it causes unnecessary worry and panic in the mum when they obsess over weight and I genuinely don't want to top up with formula as I'll end up giving up breastfeeding, which is what happened with my first (he had no weight issues but they told me to combi feed from the word go). I've managed to stay on top of blood sugars this time whilst breastfeeding, with thanks to pump and libre, so I'd love to bf for at least 6 months.

Mine too looked a bit bloated when they came out at high weights for gestation then de bloated so I assume that some of that was just fluid loss due to their declining insulin levels! Looked gi normous compared to the premies in the NICU...Your instincts seem right. A low birth weight baby will have accelerated weight gain (often for the rest of their lives) whereas a baby who has been eating the equivalent of extra mars bars should normalise their metabolism and insulin levels once out of the mum. I would take it as a sign that your baby now has a normal metabolism and will feed when hungry and in accordance with an imminent growth spurt probably! Have a lovely Christmas with your new baby and toddler and don't be a slave to the red book charts.

 

[Hotpepper20000]

I’m not a type 1 nor have I had children of my own. But in my experience working with families with new born babies for 30 years it is very normal for babies to loose weight after they are born.
As long as your baby is feeding well, wet diaper and doesn't seem distressed I would trust your instincts. Of course if you have any doubt seek advice.

 

[Ermintrude75]

Not been on here for a long while so just scrolling through.

Babies loose weight when they're born the heavier they are to begin with the more they will lose. I think a lot of professionals (including diabetic specialists) work from a book and if you dont fit in with that they dont like.

I bet your little one has put on weight ever since.