Information for parents whose baby is at increased risk of low blood sugars after birth

Babies who are small, premature, unwell at birth, or whose mothers are diabetic or have taken certain medication (beta-blockers), may have low blood glucose in the first few hours and days after birth, and it is especially important for these babies to keep warm and feed as often as possible in order to maintain normal blood glucose levels.

If your baby is in one of these at risk groups, it is recommended that they have some blood tests to check their blood glucose level. Extremely low blood glucose, if not treated, can cause brain injury resulting in developmental problems. If low blood glucose is identified quickly, it can be treated to avoid harm to your baby.

Your baby’s blood glucose is tested by a heel-prick blood test. A very small amount of blood is needed and it can be done while you are holding your baby in skin-to-skin contact. The first blood test should be done before the second feed (within four hours after birth), and repeated until the three blood glucose levels have all been stable. You and your baby will need to stay in hospital for the blood tests. You will know the result of the test straight away.

If you are breast feeding and your baby’s blood glucose remains low despite dextrose gel, you may be advised to give some infant formula if there is no available expressed breast milk. Hopefully this will be for a few feeds only whilst your breast milk is established.

Skin-to-skin contact

Skin-to-skin contact with your naked baby on your bare chest helps keep your baby calm and warm and helps establish breastfeeding. During skin-to-skin contact your baby should wear a hat and usually a nappy and be kept warm with a blanket or towel around his/her back.

Keep your baby warm

Put a hat on your baby for the first few days while he / she is in hospital. Keep your baby in skin contact on your chest covered with a blanket. If they are not skin-to-skin they need to be dressed and kept warm with blankets.

Feed as soon as possible after birth

Ask a member of staff to support you with feeding until you are confident, and make sure you know how to tell if breastfeeding is going well, or if you are bottle feeding, how much formula to give your baby.

Feed as often as possible in the first few days

Whenever you notice feeding cues, which include rapid eye movements under the eyelids, mouth and tongue movements, body movements and sounds, or sucking on a fist, offer your baby a feed. Don’t wait for your baby to cry – this can be a late sign of hunger.

Feed for as long, or as much, as your baby wants.

This ensures your baby gets as much breast milk as possible.

Feed as often as baby wants

Do not leave your baby more than three hours between feeds. If your baby is not showing any feeding cues yet, hold him/her skin-to-skin and start to offer a feed about three hours after the start of the previous feed.

Express your milk (colostrum)

If you are breastfeeding and your baby struggles to feed, try to give some expressed breast milk. A member of staff will show you how to hand express your milk and give you “The Golden Rules of Expressing” pack or you can watch the UNICEF hand expression video (opens in a new tab).

If possible, it is good to have a small amount of expressed milk saved in case you need it later, so try to express a little extra breast milk in between feeds. Ask your midwife how to store your expressed milk.

If you have been given this information before your baby is born, it is helpful if you can begin to express some colostrum ready for your baby should they need it. This can begin from 36 weeks of pregnancy for most women. Speak to your midwife about an information and collection pack.

In the first few days your baby should feed effectively at least every three hours, until blood glucose is stable, and then at least eight times in 24 hours. Ask a member of staff how to tell if your baby is attached and feeding effectively at the breast, or how much formula he/she needs. If your baby becomes less interested in feeding than before, this may be a sign they are unwell and you should raise this with a member of staff.

Your baby should feel slightly warm to touch, although hands and feet can often feel a little cooler. Place your hands on their chest to check this. Whilst your baby is having their blood sugars tested the staff will use a thermometer to check their temperature is between 36.50C and 37.50C.

When your baby is awake, he/she will look at you and pay attention to your voice and gestures. If you try to wake your baby, they should respond to you in some way.

A sleeping baby is very relaxed, but should still have some muscle tone in their body, arms and legs and should respond to your touch. If your baby feels completely floppy, with no muscle tone when you lift their arms or legs, or if your baby is making repeated strong jerky movements, this is a sign they may be unwell. It can be normal to make brief, light, jerky movements. Ask a member of the team if you are not sure about your baby’s movements.

Look at the colour of the lips and tongue – they should be pink.

Babies’ breathing can be quite irregular, sometimes pausing for a few seconds and then being very fast for a few seconds. If you notice your baby is breathing very fast for a continuous period (more than 60 breaths per minute), or seems to be struggling to breathe, with very deep chest movements, nostrils flaring or making noises with each breath out – this is not normal.

If the blood glucose test result is low, your baby should feed as soon as possible.

If your baby does not breastfeed, offer some expressed milk if available. If you are unable to express your milk, the team will prescribe a dose of dextrose (sugar) gel as part of the feeding plan because this can be an effective way to bring your baby’s glucose level up. Your baby will need another blood glucose test to make sure the levels are normal after this feed.

You should continue to offer breastfeeds and try to express milk as often as possible to ensure your milk supply is stimulated.

If the level is very low, or if the level does not come up to normal levels, the neonatal team may advise urgent treatment to raise the blood glucose and this could require immediate transfer to the Neonatal Unit. Staff will explain any treatment that might be needed. In most cases, low blood glucose quickly improves within 24-48 hours and your baby will have no further problems.

It is recommended that your baby stays in hospital for 24 hours after birth. After that, if your baby’s blood glucose is stable and he/she is feeding well, you will be able to go home.

Before you go home, make sure you know how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. A member of staff will explain the normal pattern of changes in the colour of dirty nappies and number of wet/dirty nappies. If you are breastfeeding there are daily breastfeeding information sessions on Lady Mary ward - please ensure you attend a session before you go home. There is also further information on the Breastfeeding Guide attached to your baby’s cot and on page 17 of your baby’s postnatal notes. It is important to make sure that your baby feeds well at least 8 times every 24 hours and most babies feed more often than this.

There is no need to continue waking your baby to feed every two to three hours as long as he/she has had at least 8 feeds over 24 hours, unless this has been recommended for a particular reason.

You can now start to feed your baby responsively. Your midwife will explain this.

If you are bottle feeding, make sure you are not over-feeding your baby. Offer the bottle when he/she shows feeding cues and observe for signs that he/she wants a break. Don’t necessarily expect your baby to finish a bottle – let him/her take as much milk as he/she wants.

Once you are home, no special care is needed. As with all new-born babies, you should continue to look for signs that your baby is well, and seek medical advice if you are worried at all about your baby.