Low blood sugar results and possible infection from waters breaking?

[Practicalpet]

Hi, my SIL gave birth on Tues 4.15pm, 18 hours after waters breaking(to a gorgeous baby boy! 7lb 4oz). She had skin to skin with him for 3 hours and then tried to breastfeed him at approx 9.30pm all ok but on yesterday morning his blood sugar level was tested and was low. He is jittery, and not feeding well. It was still low last night and now they think he has an infection.

He has had another blood test and the doctors are going to grow a culture from it for 24hrs to see what the infection is. His blood sugar is now being tested every 6 hours, and she has been told that she won't be able to take him home until after the weekend.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? Could it be because of the delayed feeding? I would be grateful for any advice I can take to her to put her mind at rest please as it is her first baby.

Thanks.

I haven't had exactly this, but they do sometimes think a baby has an infection, when there's nothing there - I had this with my DS1.

He's breastfeeding well, now, right? Is he still jittery? Does she think he's unwell?

Thing is, doctors are very very cautious with newborn babies, because they're so delicate, so they have to take every precaution.

Is his blood sugar improving? Her milk will probably come in in the next day or so, if not sooner, which should help ...

She is still having help with the breatfeeding, last night (approx 8pm) he was still jittery and being examined again.

She isn't sure what to think, to be honest. His blood sugar was low at 6pm and was being tested again around midnight.

I think as they are so worried they are topping him up with formula. I have reassured MIL that as long as he is still in a cot by her bed things can't be that bad, what do you think?

Yes, if they haven't put him in SCBU, they aren't that worried, it's true. It sounds odd, but it may just be nothing.

For comparison purposes, my DS1 was born after an elective CS (footling breech). He was brought out, checked, brought to me. I sent him back, because his forehead was blue . They gave him oxygen, put him in SCBU.

They kept him in SCBU for over 24 hours, took blood samples, cultured them. He had formula by nose tube.

When I got him, I had a hard time getting him to latch on (only got him to bf eventually via shields, total faff).

But at any rate, he was absolutely fine, they never found an infection, he's 5 now, he's fine.

Re: the formula. If they could do cup feeding rather than bottle, that would be less likely to interfere with breastfeeding.

Good idea regarding the cup feeding, I will suggest that to her when I go in later.

With any child you want to do what is best for them. Sounds like you had a worrying time too, sorry to hear that. Glad to know he is fine now.

Yes, I should have added, it was bloody terrifying. And for ages afterwards, I was worried there was something underlying wrong, or caused by the oxygen deprivation (e.g. CP). We had loads of checkups afterwards, because he'd been in SCBU, but he really is absolutely fine.

Does your SIL know how to do cup feeding? It's pretty easy, and incredible to see. The lid of an Avent bottle is about right to do it with.

No I don't think so, will the midwives show her?

They might or might not know. Let me get you a descriptive link. The Procedure bit here looks good

Lots of articles here

It really is quite simple, anyway - you just make sure the baby can suck the milk up, and he does. It's more work than bottle feeding, but less likely to sabotage breast feeding.