When you have diabetes, ignorant practitioners may tell you that you can't breastfeed.
This is completely false.
If your diabetes is well controlled, and you've given birth to a healthy baby, then breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby, and does not place your baby at risk for the numerous, undisputed and well-documented health problems that are associated with babies fed artificial milk.
Just be sure to keep to your "pregnancy rules" and continue to self-monitor your blood sugar levels so you are able to adjust your food and exercise to your new hormone levels.
Breastfeeding is one of the most wonderful gifts a mother can give her child.
Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer allergies and autoimmune diseases, and they are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes as children.
There is even strong evidence from a recent study in France that breastfed babies who have genes that would ordinarily cause childhood obesity and teenage diabetes, don't suffer these conditions if they are breastfed for even a few weeks.
Breast milk contains a hormone that "turns off" the undesirable genes for these increasingly common afflictions.
But a mother cannot breastfeed comfortably if she suffers the bacterial inflammation of the breast known as mastitis.
Mothers who themselves have Type 2 diabetes are especially at risk for this condition.
Mastitis is a painful infection of the nipple that usually affects just one breast.
Since the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that cause the infection are usually passed from the baby to the mother, the infection won't harm the child.
In fact, continuing to allow the child to nurse at that breast actually accelerates healing of the condition.
Topical treatments and ointments can't get to the ducts of the breast where the bacteria lodge, but the act of nursing clears them out of the breast.
Other considerations for diabetic mothers who nurse their children include:
Continuing to breastfeed despite the pain of mastitis may give you child a lifetime of good health.
This is completely false.
If your diabetes is well controlled, and you've given birth to a healthy baby, then breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby, and does not place your baby at risk for the numerous, undisputed and well-documented health problems that are associated with babies fed artificial milk.
Just be sure to keep to your "pregnancy rules" and continue to self-monitor your blood sugar levels so you are able to adjust your food and exercise to your new hormone levels.
Breastfeeding is one of the most wonderful gifts a mother can give her child.
Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer allergies and autoimmune diseases, and they are less likely to develop Type 1 diabetes as children.
There is even strong evidence from a recent study in France that breastfed babies who have genes that would ordinarily cause childhood obesity and teenage diabetes, don't suffer these conditions if they are breastfed for even a few weeks.
Breast milk contains a hormone that "turns off" the undesirable genes for these increasingly common afflictions.
But a mother cannot breastfeed comfortably if she suffers the bacterial inflammation of the breast known as mastitis.
Mothers who themselves have Type 2 diabetes are especially at risk for this condition.
Mastitis is a painful infection of the nipple that usually affects just one breast.
Since the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that cause the infection are usually passed from the baby to the mother, the infection won't harm the child.
In fact, continuing to allow the child to nurse at that breast actually accelerates healing of the condition.
Topical treatments and ointments can't get to the ducts of the breast where the bacteria lodge, but the act of nursing clears them out of the breast.
Other considerations for diabetic mothers who nurse their children include:
- avoid sleeping on your breasts
- avoid tight-fitting brassieres
- be careful to regulate your blood sugar levels.
Bacteria like sugar, too - take care with hot compresses to relieve pain.
Long-term diabetes can make the skin insensitive to temperature not just in the fingers and toes but in the nipples, too - do not share clothes
- take your time with breastfeeding.
Let the breast drain as completely as possible - don't treat fever unless you are uncomfortably hot.
Fever is the body's way of killing the bacteria - wash your hands frequently, both before and after handling your breasts
Continuing to breastfeed despite the pain of mastitis may give you child a lifetime of good health.