Hi-
I’m 32 weeks, so I’m getting close to the end! Just wondering- did anyone have a baby that had low blood sugar after birth? I know that’s a possibility but not sure how likely. Is it due to uncontrolled sugars during labor and delivery?
Jen
Hi @Jenpsu2,
My Diabetes team wanted me to keep my blood sugars as close to 70-100 the entire time before delivery, to prevent the baby from having low blood sugar after birth. No matter what they are going to probably keep the baby in the NICU for observation because of the possibility of low blood sugars. They kept my son in there for a little less than 24 hours. His blood sugars were a bit on the lower side at first but, then they kept raising and then he was released from NICU. We were able to go down and see him, feed him etc…
Before delivering you can eat anything for 24 hours so you are going to be closer to the pregnancy target anyway TRUST ME. I kept dropping then contractions would happen and I would raise a bit and then drop again. Be sure to carry your glucose.
I had a scheduled csection because Maeve was breech. I turned off my pump prior to the surgery. As soon as she was delivered, I turned my pump back on- with my prepregnancy settings. Her blood sugar was 50 something I think but the neonatologist checked her out in the OR and she never went to the NICU. She was also 6#15oz. Good luck! Maura
Hello!
I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my son, and he did have low blood sugar after birth. I don’t know what my a1c was prior to birth, but my diabetes was fairly controlled. I was induced a week early because the doctors were concerned about his size, and because I was requiring less insulin, so they were worried that the placenta was starting to breakdown. At first I was upset about induction, but I was ready when it came to week 39! He was 8 lbs 9 oz and he had to spend 3 nights in the NICU. I think his blood sugar was in the 30s when he was born (but I could be wrong… there was a lot going on). I nursed him and we gave him formula, and it barely went up, so we went straight to the NICU. At the time, it was very scary and overwhelming, but everyone at the NICU was WONDERFUL and he did really well. The 3 days felt like a life time, but he is doing great now. I know it can be scary, so hang in there. You’ll get to hold your little one soon!!
Mary
I kept my blood sugars tight through pregnancy, though I had occasional highs and lows like everyone will.
In labor I had a target blood sugar of 90, thanks to my insulin pump. Induction started at 6pm the night before, so I fasted about 12 hours before labor started and then was in labor about 20 hours, so all that fasting helped keep blood sugars stable. I tested every hour or two and had glucose tablets a couple times when I felt like I was dropping slightly and stayed in range.
My labor was unproductive so I detached my pump and went on an insulin drip before having a cesarean just a few minutes later. My son was born with a normal blood sugar and never went to NICU.
I kept my blood sugars around 80-120, with occasional highs and lows of course, while I was pregnant with a1cs ranging from 4.9-5.3. I was on an insulin drip during labor and had a natural birth. My daughter had normal blood sugar levels when she was born despite my levels being around 120 during labor. She was also never in NICU.
What do they do for the baby if he/she is born with hypoglycemia? How do they treat that?
from what my endo’s team has told me they will try to have the baby latch to drink the colostrum that comes out of your breasts before your milk supply comes in before they intervene. it’s a clear liquid and very sweet. I would ask your endo and OB as they might have another technique they practice.
My understanding is that they just try to feed the baby with colostrum and/or formula to treat the low. If the baby needs more help than that then they have to go to NICU. I haven’t been through this yet as I’m only 24 weeks, but that’s how I think it works.
My son had a BG of 1.3mmol/L shortly after he was born following labour and an “emergency” csection (really, he was just too big for me. there was no actual emergency but that’s what they call all non-elective csections). They helped us to latch then he went up to 2.5mmol/L (they told us they wanted to see him at 2.3mmol/L or higher) and eventually up to 4mmol/L by the afternoon. They tested him every 4hours for the first 24hours (and a few extra times when he was shaking so much while crying and we were freaked out). He was a preemie (36w5d) and 9lbs1oz; he didn’t spend anytime away from us.
Despite my great blood sugars my baby was born with a blood sugar of 27 (born vaginally). They just promptly gave her formula, no time to try latching. She was fine and didn’t need any special care other than that. No NICU.
I had an emergency C-section with general anesthesia, so I have no idea what my blood sugar was during the delivery. I know it was in target range just before I went into surgery, however. My son’s blood sugar was normal right after birth, but I couldn’t nurse him right away because I was still out from the anesthesia, and he did end up having low blood sugar several times over the first couple days of his life. The nurses just gave him a little bit of formula or had me try nursing and then gave formula again if his sugar didn’t come back up. They actually sat him up and had him drink it out of a tiny cup (the ones they usually hand you with pills to take!) It was kind of impressive. I had no idea newborns could drink out of cups right away, but he sucked it right down. I also don’t know if the low blood sugar had anything to do with my blood sugars during delivery or if it was for some other reason. After a few days he was fine and didn’t have any more problems.
Blood sugars during delivery typically do not cause hypoglycemia in newborns.
If you’re blood sugars have been running high while pregnant, babies body is constantly adjusting to keep their bodies blood sugar normal. So, when they’re born, their blood sugar will drop because their body is used to producing an excess amount of insulin to combat your higher blood sugar. Does that make sense?
I had my first last year, and she maintained a good blood sugar, and was never in the NICU. Babies run a little lower than adults. Anything over 45 is considered normal under most hospital protocols. If baby’s blood sugar does drop they will likely give them formula as it can be delivered more quickly than breast milk/colostrum. If baby is consistently low, then they will transfer them to the NICU for closer monitoring. When I had my baby they monitored her blood sugar for the first 24 hours, and since she maintained her levels they didn’t need to test her after the initial 24 hours.
Hope this helps!