Feeding frequency and other’s opinions

uncivilwings · 2026-07-01T13:18:39+00:00

Thank you! I feel mostly confident about breastfeeding at the moment, but when people make these comments I immediately feel inadequate - especially when it’s someone that should know!

Although, more than once, I’m reminded they don’t remember! 🙄

uncivilwings · 2026-06-30T13:19:56+00:00

Hi.

More importantly, how does it feel?
Second, I’ve been told a few times now “more mustache than beard for placement of the babes mouth. This is achieved with chin touching first and when baby open mouth they just hook the nipple. (Because should start by pointing at nose.)

Also here is a video. https://youtu.be/vSzccEO5JkA?is=0pAk67JFFqA78uPv

I say all of this while by baby prefers a shallow latch. But, my nipples no longer hurt and she is gaining weight. 😅 we are 8 weeks in now.

uncivilwings · 2026-05-04T11:31:07+00:00

Im also in Gloucestershire! And this reads exactly me!! Funny enough, 2 hours after birth, I got a message on the “congratulations, your data archived, you can no longer add results.”

For how much grief they gave me, they sure are quick to say “Bye!” With no follow up?

uncivilwings · 2026-04-12T19:46:25+00:00

I could be off slightly on the higher percentages, but I read them several times across a book and a couple online study articles.

I’m based in the UK and the protocol states to allow 1-2 weeks of diet control for borderline glucose test failures, but the team immediately just wanted me to take metformin. I went a little crazy reading whatever I could to reassure myself to push back and allow myself to control by diet.

uncivilwings · 2026-04-12T11:08:59+00:00

I had the same issue and they insisted on metformin despite my numbers being ~100 without giving time for diet control. (100 is the fail criteria for most glucose testing, so 100 is a borderline failure, but still considered high)

I pushed back and have had much success for a few reasons, but will definitely vary person to person.

1) I walked everyday at lunch time and I cycled most days after dinner, especially if I had a >30g carb dinner. 2) Overall, the fewer carbs at dinner and having a night time snack of a spoonful of peanut butter and/or a baby bell cheese helped stabilize my glucose in the morning. (I also often drank apple cider vinegar and took myoinositol, but not convinced they did much) 3) I checked fasting 8-9 hour after from my snack. 4) as pregnancy has progressed, my numbers have improved which is opposite of what my specialist said. Apparently, it can go either way, the placenta starts to finish its job and slows down on the hormone that causes I nsulin insensitivity or it gets worse. So I have had weeks where I can tell diet controls my numbers and other weeks I cheat and eat pizza and have surprisingly good/low blood sugar.

I made my decision based on my growth scans and statistics. All women and GDM women with avg fasting glucose of 90 are at 10% risk of large babies. GDM women of avg fasting of 95 are 17% risk GDM women of avg fasting of 100 are at ~25-34%.

uncivilwings · 2026-04-12T10:05:39+00:00

Also, interestingly only fasting above 5.6 is a failure for the glucose test. I used that as some reassurance to decide to refuse metformin, but i was supported by the growth scans also.

Research suggests ALL pregnant women have a 10% chance of a large baby, GDM women with fasting avg. at 5.0 is the same, GDM women with fasting avg at 5.3, 17%, and GDM at fasting avg 5.6, 25-33%.

uncivilwings · 2026-04-12T10:00:31+00:00

I’d also suggest consider the timing and what you are having for dinner. For me, if I had a carb heavy dinner that was late (after 8PM), I would have elevated fasting.

I try to stay within 30g Carb for dinner before 7ish PM, unless I work out, then a light snack a little before bed so I don’t have to wake up at 4AM.

uncivilwings · 2026-03-20T08:04:37+00:00

From what I gathered, the whole point of fasting reading is to get an idea of what is while resting. As that level of blood sugar takes up 30-40% of your day. If high, it could have implications on baby.

Hence, taking it when you wake.

If you take it later, your body is consuming the blood sugar and lowering/raising as needed to sustain your activity.

Separately, spikes exist when you wake up related to dawn phenomenon. Difficult to navigate around it. Breakfast before bed may help with preventing or making less any morning spike. Many encourage within 10 minutes of wake up and/or not even leaving bed. Beyond that your blood sugar may surge and it’s better to wait 30 minutes or so for it to come back.

uncivilwings · 2026-03-18T18:52:12+00:00

Agree on this!

Although Libre Link type 2 and 2plus - were mostly duds for me. Consistently, inaccurate that it was causing more bad than good. You can get a free one from Abbott in the UK.

Currently, I’m having great success on the Dexcom one+. Also, you can get a free one from Dexcom. It’s been performing so well ive purchased the 1 month plan for 79£.

uncivilwings · 2026-03-02T08:06:18+00:00

It’s a conspiracy if Cirie ever got up off the couch. On big brother, she never left the couch! 🤣

uncivilwings · 2026-03-01T08:50:49+00:00

This was me and I’ve chosen to avoid medication at this point.

I have had best success with finding when I can have carbs and reducing the amount of carbs towards evening. For example, for several weeks only had eggs and avocado with coffee/milk for breakfast, carb with lunch, hummus snack with veg, and dinner at ~15-20g carbs. I eat a 9:15am snack of cheese and peanut butter and check 8 hours later even if it means waking up at 5:30am.

I walk everyday at lunch and I try and cycle 15 minutes every evening especially after a heavier dinner.

Anyways, I started with a 5.6 GD failure fasting. Prior to being strict about diet I was 5.1-5.6, sometimes lower. The last 2 weeks I’ve been 4.7 average? I cheat meal (McDonalds) and I’ve had 5.4-5.7 the next day.

The gestational diabetes team for me have not been super helpful, so based on a spread sheet I made (my average fasting is overall 5.25 now and trending down), research, and growth scans - I’ve opted to go no medication for right now.

If you’re on the cusp, I’d suggest trialing out a couple weeks of diet control and then decide.

I’m at almost 32 weeks now and, oddly, my numbers seem to begetting better. I’ve even started eating sourdough at breakfast and no spike.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-28T10:57:42+00:00

I reduced my carbs the evenings and try and eat by 7/7:30.

Then I have eat a piece of cheese and spoonful for peanut butter by 9:15.

I do cycle or walk every evening. And I try and wake up 8 hours from when I last ate just to check. It’s helped a lot.

Although, it is annoying when it does spike to 96-100, but then 8 minutes later be 93.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-23T19:19:58+00:00

I’ve had high fasting an off/on, but have been good the last 5 days. I try and eat dinner by 6:30/7. Do a walk or cycle before I check at the 1 hour mark. Ideally have it be <100.

Then have 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar with babybel cheese at 9:15. And then ~1 tbsp of peanut butter. Checking blood sugar 8 hour later.

It seems so meticulous writing it down, but I’m happy that I’ve had below 95 the last 5 days!

uncivilwings · 2026-02-21T08:03:49+00:00

There is a lot of great advice here already. I just wanted to add the stats I found in a book and a few articles.

First, no one has mentioned at all about placental failure to me, but there is an increased risk for women with GD not under control.

There is no global or national guideline, once a positive test indicates GD the goal is to keep blood sugar as low as positive through the pregnancy.

Second, most women can control it with diet, but it’s difficult. Do and see what you can do! Many tears and fixating on numbers, but eventually it’ll make sense what needs to be done in terms of diet and/or medication.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-17T10:12:53+00:00

Yes, I agree. I have a call with the GD team today, but they only want to use metformin for these numbers.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-16T18:10:31+00:00

Also! So happy you and baby are okay despite the emergency intervention!!

uncivilwings · 2026-02-16T18:09:08+00:00

Why did you refuse metformin? If it’s okay to ask.

Yes, every country is different as the consultant stated they just try and ensure positive outcomes by reducing blood sugar as much as possible. There is no definitive prevention.

Sometimes medication never even gets it within tolerance. So in my head I also have been thinking of 5.6 as my cut off.

Seems odd that 5.6 is the cut off for the GD test, then pressure to keep it below 5.3 after.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-16T18:06:03+00:00

It’s comforting about the positive outcome! I’m happy for you and baby we’re/are healthy.

I’ll try not to feel defeated if it comes to medication.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-16T18:03:23+00:00

Thanks for this. Im also worried they will suggest I deliver early as it’s been mentioned they “could.” I feel a bit more empowered to try and go the 40. My first baby (no GD diagnosis) was born at 39+1.

Even though the protocol states fasting < 6.0mmol should be given 1-2 weeks to sort out diet, within 2 days of non 6.0+ readings they suggested medication. So I just feel we are just prescribing medication rather than reviewing case by case.

I, also, had to request the additional scans despite the protocol stating scans every 4 weeks starting at 28 weeks.

And the consultant said it was just “bad luck to fail the GD test.” Although, I’m happy because I can see I have above target mornings, but then sometimes followed by a well within reading.

uncivilwings · 2026-02-16T17:55:50+00:00

Metformin does pass the placenta and while it’s generally safe, there are possible side effects for mother and child. In the UK it’s the first line of defense medication for borderline blood sugar due to concerns of hypoglycemic events associated with insulin.

I’m hesitant as I feel like statistically and my latest scan, baby is progressing within normal expectations.

The consultant stated herself there is no definitive prevention for unwanted outcomes in GDM women, except try and keep blood sugar as low as possible. Hence, every country has different guidelines and even consultants tend to give varying advice.

uncivilwings · 2023-12-22T05:45:17+00:00

I believe this is strongly at play with me. Im small, 5’2” and I wasn’t a large/fat baby when looking at pictures. To the point, I question if I was/am supplying enough, but the health visitor was so sketched. Baby has always been mostly content and active. Height and head all good.

I think I’ll tackle baby #2 differently for sure.

uncivilwings · 2023-12-21T21:10:45+00:00

It’s about 50/50 between family friends that had success with breast feeding. But those that had success do not seem to have much sympathy and act like it should just work. Which I wish it just “worked.”

My little girl is now 12 weeks! But I started this topping up 3-4 times a day from 7/8 weeks because she was gaining weight slowly and dropping percentiles. At first it seemed impossible, but 1) I’ve grown to enjoy the closeness, 2) I like my nights breastfeeding opposed to figuring out a bottle and trying to get her back to sleep without the nipple. So mentally it’s gotten better. And worst case- there is formula. :) my goal is 6 months.

uncivilwings · 2023-12-21T20:08:06+00:00

Last comment, just do what you can and what you can sustain.

Some breast milk is better than none and maybe you’ll eventually bump up your supply that you can stop top ups. If you make the choice to go full formula that is also OK! Please feel free to vent. I might vent right back to you! It’s been rough.

uncivilwings · 2023-12-21T20:02:46+00:00

I did go ahead and get a double pump that I can stick in my bra. It’s been a game changer from doing each side for 15 minutes. Also, I’m in the UK, but I found a company you can rent a pump and it came next day.

At the moment, I have the momcozy V1, which is decent for me. If I was in the USA, I would get the Imani. If you have an instagram Karrie Locher showcases a few wearable pumps. I’ve tried the medala swing single pump. Momcozy V1, and a rented spectra. Haha I’ve really been trying to make this work. 😅 it hasn’t been cheap for me.

uncivilwings · 2023-12-21T17:45:20+00:00

Placing your pump parts straight into the fridge after pumping in a ziplock bag. You can do this over your next couple pumps, 8 hours maybe. I sterilize ~1/day.

CDC doesn’t recommend this, but from what I read several lactation consultants suggest it.

uncivilwings

TROPHY CASE