Gestational Diabetes and Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both the mother and her baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all women breastfeed their babies for at least one full year. The World Health Organization goes further and recommends two years. There is now clear evidence that breast milk provides extra immunological protection for your baby. Breast milk also contains protective substances, therefore, helping fight off many illnesses and diseases.Women who have had Gestational Diabetes during their pregnancy, are strongly recommended to breastfeed. Gestational Diabetes happens when a mother's body cannot make adequate use of her sugar in her blood, during pregnancy. When you eat, your body breaks down foods into a type of sugar called, glucose. The glucose enters your bloodstream. With the help of insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, your cells use glucose as fuel. If your body doesn't produce enough insulin, or your cells are not responding to the insulin, you have too much glucose as fuel. If your body doesn't produce enough insulin or your cells are not responding to the insulin, you have too much glucose or sugar in your blood. This sugar is not getting converted to energy and moving through your system.As you go through pregnancy, your hormone level rises. Your cells may become less responsive to insulin. If your pancreas cannot keep up with this insulin, your blood sugar level becomes too high resulting in, Gestational Diabetes. Mothers who have Gestational Diabetes may have high blood pressure during her pregnancy too. In some cases, moms need to be put on medications therefore, they have to take insulin to regulate their sugar level. This may include, taking insulin shots or be on either Glyburide drug, which helps raise the amount of insulin in the body or the drug, Metformin, which blocks the liver from making glucose, sugar. Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes are: dizzy, sweaty, confused, hungry, weak, fatigued and thirsty Tests will be done throughout the pregnancy to help monitor your sugar level.Some moms do not know that they have Gestational Diabetes therefore, all women go through a glucose screening test between 24-28 weeks during their pregnancy. The goal of treatment for Gestational Diabetes is to keep the mother's sugar level normal during pregnancy while making sure the baby is healthy. Often times doctors do their best to deliver naturally, however, sometimes these moms have to deliver by Cesarean Section. Some reasons why women have a C-Section are: the baby is too large for vaginal delivery, therefore, it may get stuck in the birth canal, the baby has delayed lung maturity or other health problems or the baby just did not turn into the right position, which can happen in any pregnancy. Breastfeeding is very healthy for both you and your baby after birth. Breastfeeding will help the mom use blood sugar well. It also helps cut down your child's chances of diabetes later on. In fact, the first breast milk, Colostrum, contains very high levels of protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels.Therefore, breastfeeding your baby as soon as you can after delivery is crucial. After delivery, your baby is closely monitored for hypoglycemia, his blood sugar level or jaundice, high levels of bilirubin, where the skin turns yellow, in the blood after birth. Sometimes, if the baby's sugar level is extremely low at birth, glucose water or formula may need to be supplemented while you are at the hospital, to bring the baby's blood sugar level back. Your doctor will be able to answer any questions that you have and direct you to the right nourishment for your baby.Unfortunately, women who have Gestational Diabetes, have a higher risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes later on in her life. To help lower your risk, you should stay at a healthy weight, follow a healthy daily diet, exercise on a regular basis and life with a rule of having and maintaining an active lifestyle. Gestational Diabetes ends when your pregnancy is over. However, make sure you retest yourself every year, following your doctor's recommendation. Eat healthy, exercise, and keep your weight at a normal level. Keep breastfeeding because breast milk is superior to artificial baby formula. Furthermore, breast milk boosts the baby's immune system, something formula does not do.Lastly, treatment of choice for a baby born to a mom who has had Gestational Diabetes should be frequent breastfeeding sessions. This will help your baby's health for years to come.