I am a nicu nurse and I would say it depends on many factors.

1. How well your sugars are controlled and how strict of a diet you go on. Because If you have higher sugars or major fluctuating ones the babies pancreas makes loads of insulin and when they are cut of from their sugar supply it may take a day or more to regulate. I have looked after babies for up to 7 days with sugar problems.

2. Early feeding. If you plan on breastfeeding that's wonderful but the likelyhood that colostrum alone can maintain your infants sugars is low. They shod have a formula feed as soon as they are born and then feed every 3 hours afterwards. The bigger the baby the more calories they need.

3. Some large babies of diabetic mothers are very poor eaters. We don't really know why but they just don't eat well for a few days and either need feeding tubes of IV fluids with dextrose.

4. Some moms ONLY want breastmilk or breastfeeding and in those cases it is extremely likely they will come to us and need an IV because their parents don't want to feed formula.

Hope that helps good luck.

My DD had a lot of issues (not sugar related, since it didn't apply at the time) and had to be on strong antibiotics so they just put a vitamin lead into her IV port. She didn't get formula or anything for two days, and then it was through a tube. After that she learned to nurse and take a bottle. She never had nipple confusion thankfully, so I know it can be done. When we got home she went full-time to breast milk, but I pumped off and on for hubs to get to bond too. Bottom line is we'll do whatever the new baby needs, so I'd just better be emotionally prepared for anything. Thank you ladies for all of your input! I'm in a better frame of mind about it all.