728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Overcoming Difficulties › Low Sugar in the Blood

Low Sugar in the Blood

What Does It Mean for Your Breastfeeding Baby?

By Ann Calandro

Pages:  1  2  3  

Sometimes when a baby is born, parents are informed that the child has low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. This is frightening to parents who wonder if something is really wrong with their baby. Some parents are concerned that their baby has diabetes, since that is also a condition involving the blood sugar. Actually, low blood sugar is not at all unusual, and having the right information will put your mind at ease.

In the Beginning
When a baby is inside Mom, his blood sugar is controlled by her blood sugar. She sends continuous glucose (sugar) through Baby's umbilical cord. Baby stores some glycogen (a chemical that babies use to make sugar) in the liver, particularly in the last three months of intrauterine life. That's why babies born early, who have not had a chance to store glycogen, have more trouble regulating their sugar.

After Baby is born, Mom is no longer his sugar source. It takes a while before he is able to synthesize glucose. The first few hours after birth are a time when the glucose levels are lowest, whether the baby has eaten or not. A level of less than 35 mg/dl when a baby is 0 to 3 hours old or less than 40 mg/dl when the baby is 3 to 24 hours old is considered hypoglycemia. (Some doctors feel the guidelines may soon be changing, and that 45 mg/dl may be the desired blood sugar for newborns. The American Academy of Pediatrics uses current research to amend the guidelines every few years.)

The Whys and Hows
How is a baby checked for hypoglycemia? It is done with a blood test. The most accurate blood test is a plasma level.

There are two main reasons why babies may have low glucose after birth. First, Baby may use too much of the sugar they have in storage, because Mom may have poorly-controlled diabetes with too much insulin and too high sugar levels. Babies have normal pancreas activity, so they may make a lot of insulin after Mom's supply is cut off when the cord it cut. Babies may also get too cold, stressed or cry too much. These are the most common reasons for hypoglycemia.

Second, babies may not produce enough glucose. This could be for several reasons, which may include metabolic problems or brain injury. This is unusual.

Pages:  1  2  3  


Want to see more?