hunker -- question about gestational diabetes and colostrum

[PortAndLemon]

I was reading posts from when you were pregnant and diagnosed with GD and noticed in particular the stuff about forcing formula on the newborn. You said at one point that if likely to be necessary you'd express colostrum before the birth and use that; did you do that in the end or did it all just work out OK?

Just trying to plan ahead...

Just thought I'd chip in. My DW is diabetic (type 1) and was warned that formula might be needed after the birth if LO's blood sugars got too low - so she expressed some colustrum before hand, just in case - but in the end although sugars dropped a bit, with lots of breast-feeding they were able to stay above the line at which there would have been concerned.

We were quite explicit at spelling out in our birth-plan that formula was not in our thinking!

Good luck!

Thanks. I may try some expressing in advance just in case, then. Just need to try to find a pump that works for me...

Thought I'd chip in too! I had GD with DS (now 1 month old) and was given some syringes by the BF counsellor at the hospital to Express colostrum into and freeze. She recommended hand expressing it and then bringing them in frozen when I came in for delivery (in theory would have defrosted whilst i was in labour)

In the event I didn't manage to express colostrum but breastfed immediately after delivery for ages and had a fab midwife who was happy to 'forget' about checking Ds's blood sugar until about 4 hours after the birth He was absolutely fine. Good luck...

Oooh, freezing syringes sounds like a really good idea!

If you're looking for 'normal' syringes (I assume, rather than special colostrum ones if there is such a thing ) they sell them in Boots, behind the pharamcy counter for about 70p each

Yes, don't use a pump as it wastes your precious colostrum. It will all get stuck in the workings of the pump and you'll lose too much- each tiny drop is worth getting straight into the syringe. Get a midwife to show you how to hand express into a syringe and freeze away. It can help if you have a, erm, willing DH or partner to lend a hand! Sterilize them and then keep them in an avent type sterilized pot with a screw on lid.

I didn't know any of this but a friend recently went through it all with a babe who would not latch on. Although I was not diagnosed with Gest Diab they kept checking me through pregnancy as I was showing all signs. DS was huge baby and Consultant said he also looked like a Diabetic Baby - whatever the means ? . He was jittery through his first night and had low blood sugar so they did top him up - I was recovering from c-section but still managed to bf him every time before I allowed them to take him for top up.

Good luck!