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If you’ve been living with type 1 diabetes, you know that it can affect every area of your life, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re interested in conceiving and breastfeeding your baby, make sure you consult your healthcare providers as you make plans to become a parent.
Here’s what you need to know to make sure both you and your baby can thrive.
Yes, you can breastfeed with type 1 diabetes. In fact, some health experts recommend it.
Breastfeeding has many potential health benefits, and you and your baby can reap these whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Babies who breastfeed are less likely to develop conditions, including type 1 diabetes. Breastfed babies are also less likely to experience:
According to the The DiaTribe Foundation, mothers who breastfeed are less likely to have hypertension (high blood pressure), ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
If you’re living with type 1 diabetes, it’s helpful to know that the condition can sometimes create challenges with breastfeeding. Most of these challenges are manageable, especially with the right support. Still, they can make it harder for some people to continue breastfeeding over time. Knowing what to expect and having a plan in place can make a big difference in helping you meet your breastfeeding goals.
There are a few points to consider if you want to breastfeed with type 1 diabetes:
Breastfeeding can affect your blood sugar. Because your body has to work harder and burns calories producing milk, your blood sugar levels are likely to be different when you’re breastfeeding than they were before you got pregnant or during your pregnancy. This is similar to how some people with type 1 diabetes respond to exercise.
It’s common for people to experience low blood sugar while breastfeeding. Your blood glucose levels may drop during a feeding — or even at unexpected times throughout the day. Because of these changes, you might need less insulin or lower doses of other medications. Breastfeeding can shift the blood sugar patterns you’re used to, so it’s a good idea to keep a source of fast-acting glucose nearby whenever you feed your baby.
Doctor Avni Vora is an endocrinologist at Northwestern Medicine. She has helped people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes to have successful pregnancies and great breastfeeding experiences. On the topic of blood sugar and breastfeeding, she said, “If you’re breastfeeding, you’re actually losing calories through the breastfeeding. I have a lot of women where they end up not needing as much insulin while they’re breastfeeding, and then sometimes we have to adjust back up when they stop breastfeeding.”
Discussing how breastfeeding will affect your diabetes management before your baby is born and staying in communication with your diabetes team can help you have a more successful breastfeeding experience.
Type 1 diabetes can affect milk production in a couple of important ways. First, it may delay the start of milk production after your baby is born. Second, it can sometimes make it harder to maintain a steady milk supply over time. These challenges can make breastfeeding feel more difficult — but with planning and support, they can often be managed.
You’ll want to include steps in your plan for breastfeeding with type 1 diabetes that directly address these issues. Insulin is a normal component of breastmilk, and all forms of insulin are excreted into breast milk.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you’re more likely to experience certain pregnancy complications, like preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and can be harmful to you and your baby. You’re also more likely to have a larger baby, which can make giving birth harder. Babies born to someone with type 1 diabetes may also experience low blood sugar after they are born.
All of these issues can complicate breastfeeding, particularly if you or your baby needs special medical attention and you have to be separated.
One of the most important steps you can take before you start breastfeeding with type 1 diabetes is to have a plan to address these possible issues before your baby arrives. Here are a few steps your plan could include.
Arrange ahead of time to work with medical professionals and other support staff who have experience with type 1 diabetes and breastfeeding. You may want to find a lactation consultant. Your team may also include a postpartum doula. These come to your house to support everything around having a new baby, including breastfeeding, cleaning, nutrition, physical recovery, and more.
If you’ve been working with a dietitian throughout your pregnancy, you may want to continue as you figure out what you need to eat to breastfeed successfully.
Before your body starts making breast milk, it produces a thick, nutrient-rich fluid called colostrum. Sometimes referred to as “liquid gold,” colostrum is packed with antibodies and nutrients your baby needs in the first few days of life. Because your body begins making colostrum before birth, you can learn how to express and store it ahead of time.
Having colostrum on hand can be helpful if your milk supply is delayed or if your baby can’t nurse right away. You can give it to your baby using a syringe, spoon, or bottle.
Once breastfeeding is underway, consider learning how to pump and store any extra milk you produce. This backup supply can be especially helpful if you face challenges with milk production later on.
Regularly monitor your blood glucose levels, especially after birth, until you establish a new routine. This will help you catch any periods of high or low blood sugar before they become dangerous. Keep your medications and food nearby, so you can always take steps to bring your blood sugar levels back to a safe range.
There are some ways to make breastfeeding easier. These steps are helpful for any new breastfeeding parent, not just people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes:
Work with your healthcare team or your diabetes care team to come up with the best possible plan for you and your baby. Make sure they know that you want to practice exclusive breastfeeding if you can, so they’re prepared to support you. Your care team may be able to refer you to other medical professionals who specialize in working with new parents who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
On myT1Dteam, people share their experiences with type 1 diabetes, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
How has type 1 diabetes influenced your decisions around parenting or breastfeeding? Let others know in the comments below.
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