"I found it very sad when my big (10lb) newborn was still rooting and crying after his first bfeed, and when the nurses told me his blood sugar was too low."
Did they test his blood sugar? Did he show any actual symptoms of low blood sugar? TBH this is a contentious issue - it's believed many babies are unnecessarily being supplemented with formula in situations like yours. Some babies will benefit from supplementing, but many would be fine without.
"When I accepted a formula top-up rather than a glucose drip (I would rather not pierce his skin in a hospital which may have MRSA, thanks) I had already 'failed' according to stats",
Sorry - what 'stats'? And how 'failed'? You are reading some sort of judgmentalism into the figures on exclusive breastfeeding which are simply not there. Why would that be?
At present UNICEF make the case that about 10% of babies born in UK hospitals might benefit from some sort of additional supplement to breastfeeding at birth. This is no surprise to those who know anything about how birthing practices in this country impact on the first few days of breastfeeding. But it might be supplementing with expressed milk or colostrum and not just formula. At present about 50% of the breastfed babies born at my local hospital are supplemented with formula before discharge, most within 12 hours of birth. I don't know what the rates are at the hospital where you had your baby. Hopefully less!
I also gave birth to a very large baby - 10lbs 12oz. I also had diabetes in pregnancy. My midwives closely monitored ds's behaviour and appearance in the first few hours after birth. They also helped me to get him attached as soon as possible after birth and to breastfeed constantly for the first few hours. I also had an unmedicated birth and he was very alert for the first few hours and fed well. I appreciate this probably isn't the case for many babies of this size born in hospital.
"despite months of subsequent bfeeding. And some posters on here - when I shared story - were of the opinion that I shouldn't have given him anything and to ignore the medics".
You can only do what you feel to be right at the time, and most people sensibly listen to medical advice. Sad though that when it comes to the need for early supplementation mothers are so often betrayed by health professionals who lack training and expertise in supporting exclusive breastfeeding.
"I know a mother is designed to provide for her baby but sometimes Nature needs a little helping hand."
I agree. But not a bloody great cudgel, which is what (in metaphorical terms) is what breastfeeding mothers so often get in hospital.