[blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern- BF when diabetic

Tue Apr 17 15:09:38 UTC 2012

That is good info to know Bridget, thanks for sharing that part of your life
with us.  The really cool thing is that you will always be set up with the
best toddler snacks in town which your child will love. SMILING

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:24 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern- BF when diabetic

I already know it will be crucial to continue checking and monitoring
glucose levels if breast feeding since it typically causes diabetics to run
lower. Since I lean towards lower ranges naturally and have a higher
metabolism, I will definitely be more at risk of low blood sugars.
Regardless if pumping or using breast or combo of both, it will cause my
sugars to drop, and usually these things happen over a certain period of
time and not necessarily right away, so I may feed fine, but then will drop
an hour later, but I could also drop while feeding and/or pumping.
I've been at this for 27 years, so I'm prepared in terms of a checking
schedule and having items on hand if I need to treat, but I will have this
extra step along with what any new mother will go through.

Along with having a basket of some sort nearby and handy with baby supplies,
it will also contain items to treat low blood sugars, and of course I keep
my glucose meter on hand wherever I am.

Feeding from the breast is perfectly fine for a diabetic, but my thoughts
are that I can have a bit more control over monitoring my glucose levels and
being able to treat without disrupting baby at least when pumping, and from
personal experience, setting a bottle down and laying baby down is a quick,
fluid step when experiencing a low blood sugar and needing to treat
immediately. Though I have yet to compare it to feeding from the breast with
my own experience as I have not had any natural children yet, grin. Of
course Ross totally intends on helping as well.

I completely intend to try feeding from the breast, and who knows, maybe I
will prefer it. I also will need to adjust and acclimate to the new parent
schedule and finding what works best for me and baby. I'm open to all and
new ideas and seeing what works best for us.

It will be a headache concentrating on both baby and my own health during
the adjustment phase, but my health will be priority since of course if I'm
passed out on the floor, I won't be much help to the baby, smile. I'm very
in-tuned  with my body and diabetic symptoms including while sleeping; I
will wake up from sleep if low. Somehow I'm able to recognize these symptoms
in my sleep. I think the fact that I can lucid dream helps with this along
with just having dealt with diabetes for almost my entire life. I also am
aware of how hectic and taxing things can be at first after bringing baby
home, so I want to be safe and know my options in order to achieve the best
plan and schedule for us.

That's why I love this list. Beyond advice in terms of blindness, it is also
a great resource for other parenting info. I like to learn what is out there
and compare it all in order to make the best decision for me.
Thanks everyone.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 23
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:35:52 -0700
From: "Erin Rumer" <erinrumer at gmail.com>
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only
Message-ID: <002601cd1c18$e664f020$b32ed060$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Bridget, I'm sure there are lactation specialists who have an extra
specialization in diabetics who nurse their babies.  If you find one I'd
love to hear what advise she gives you.  You may prove to be completely
different from your mom and sister and as you already know I'm sure, bottles
bring on their own problems like more risk of ear infection, colic from the
bottle letting air into the stomach, more choking from baby getting too much
milk at once and more.  I have always said that breast feeding allows you to
have more immediate time with your baby since you won't have to take several
minutes to get a bottle ready with a screaming baby waiting and you don't
have to deal with all those bottles to sterilize and keep at the perfect
temperature when you go out.  My son was a constant eater so to give my
nipples a little rest I would supplement with one bottle a day until he was
4 months old and even then there were too many bottles to deal with in my
opinion. LOL

Erin

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