Sugar Water Needed for Big Babies?

[New_Natural_Mom]

At Easter dinner this weekend my SIL mentioned that when people have big babies (as I am suspected to be carrying) that the hospital routinely gives sugar water at birth. Is this true? If so, why? Is it really necessary? And is it really sugar water or chemical water.....

[mtm]

not true at my hospital. I wonder if its related to the whole big baby equals diabetes thing? My first was over 10 pounds and had nothing but breastmilk.

[KristyDi]

I don't know if it's routine or not. I suspect it largely depends on the hospital. My DD was on the small side so I have no personal experience, but everything I've read says babies don't need anything but breast milk with no caveats added about big babies needing something additional supplements.

If you're concerned I would call L&D at the hospital where you're going to deliver and ask. That way you can be prepared.

[Luv2Skydive]

I wasn't aware of that being done. My last one was over 10lbs and had nothing but breastmilk.

[Leilalu]

they can try. you can refuse.

As long as a baby is fed within a reasonable time after birth I don't see the problem.

I know they ask to routinely give sugar water when they do heel prick tests. It helps with pain, which is why they do it.

[ChildoftheMoon]

I have had 4 big babies, they only received breastmilk.
Three of them were born at home, so no hospital to deal with, but I think it is totally unnecessary. Not sure why they give it.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Many places will do that. Apparently, big babies have trouble with blood sugar levels. Colostrum wold be much more effective at leveling things out, even just a few drops will make a difference.
I would definitely refuse the sugar water and even better, refuse the heel stick to see if baby "needs" suagr water. It's not necessary, IMHO.

[DCMom]

I had a 10 lb 4 oz baby at a birth center 10 days ago. When getting measured/weighed about 2 hours after his birth, he seemed jittery. The midwife tested his glucose and it was only a 21. It was supposed to be over 45 at a minimum for the birth center to discharge us and "normal" is in the 60s. I later learned that if it had gone under 20, it could have potentially really adversely affected his nervous system. Anyway, the midwives recommended me supplementing him with formula as I breastfed. The idea is to get the blood sugar up to a normal level and then it would stabilize itself. We tried doing that all night, but he just didn't take the formula and while his blood sugar level was going up, it just wouldn't go up past 45 and stay there. So, after being at the birth center 20 hours (the limit is 23 hours), we made the decision to go to hospital NICU.

Wouldn't you know it, as soon as the transport team got to the birth center, his level was a 56 and when we got to the hospital it was a 62. Oh well. We all spent the night in the NICU where I breastfed every couple of hours. Nobody suggested sugar water, but all the docs and nurses suggested formula. We did end up giving him formula because I was only 30 hours post-birth, exhausted with no place to sleep or eat and I looked at it as a "get out of jail" card so we could go home that day. Since we've been home, all we've done is breastfeed and he's totally healthy.

[Leilalu]

yeah, definitely refuse the heel stick to test for blood sugar levels.

I was reffering to the heel stick for jaundice. When they have to draw blood several times they give it for pain. We refused though.

[Jes'sBeth]

it's ridiculous to give your child sugar water. Empty calories. Your child needs breastmilk. It's the perfect food for your child and is sterile.

[elisheva]

My son had trouble maintaining his blood sugar after birth. First, formula was "suggested" (more like forced) even though I was actively bf-ing. I was too loopy post c/s to say no forcefully and gave him some. He was taken to the NICU at about 18 hours old and stayed for 48 hours. I nursed every two-three hours while he was in the NICU on a glucose drip. His levels stabilized after 24 hours and he was weaned off the drip and discharged the next day.

I was told that low blood sugar can damage the nervous system, but I honestly haven't done my own research. Also, just because your baby is suspected of being "big" doesn't mean he/she will have blood sugar troubles. I think my ds's sugar issues were largely due to a very stressful 4 day failed induction in the hospital prior to the c/s. Stress can raise your blood sugar levels.

In the reading I've done on high blood sugar, I know that walking/exercise can really do a lot to lower blood sugar. So, if you can tolerate it, you might try taking some extra walks between now and delivery.

[anj7]

My three girls were around the 9 lb mark (one under 9 lbs, one at 9 lbs, one over 9 lbs), we were never offered sugar water, I don't think it's routine at our hospital as it's never come up before at any appt or tour I've had (my pre-natal care was at the maternity office located at the hospital).

[DBZ]

No, big babies do not need sugar water. All they need is breast milk. I've had 3 big babies and none of them had sugar issues and I did let them do the heal prick to be sure. The only one that got sugar water was my first and they did that without my consent.

Big babies tend to be more sleepy. Be sure and wake your big baby and nurse him/her a lot.

[~Robin]

its up to you to decide. I think that they tend to want to do that with pain reasons or to up the gloucose..but its really your call.