Can I breastfeed my baby after having gestational diabetes?

Having gestational diabetes won’t impact your ability to breastfeed. In fact early breastfeeding (within half an hour of birth) can help your baby maintain normal levels of blood glucose. Your baby will have a heel prick blood test several times during its first day to test for low blood glucose levels. Breastfeeding may also reduce your baby’s risk of developing diabetes later in life.