Early Lactation and Infant Feeding Practices Differ by Maternal Gestational Diabetes History.
Reena Oza-Frank, Jennifer J Moreland, Kelly McNamara and 2 others
PMID 27550377WHAT IT FOUND
Breastfeeding duration was similar overall, but women with gestational diabetes started pumping sooner and gave formula earlier.
Feeding at the breast was shorter only before other factors were considered. These mothers may need teaching about both feeding and pumping.
Key findings
01Breastfeeding and pumping duration did not differ, and fewer days feeding at the breast was not significant after adjustment.
02Women with gestational diabetes started pumping sooner than women without gestational diabetes, and this difference remained after adjustment.
03Women with gestational diabetes were more likely to give formula within the first 2 days of life.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 34 women had gestational diabetes, so the results for this group are limited. The survey was mailed 12 months after birth, so feeding details depended on memory. Women who planned exclusive bottle feeding were excluded, so the sample mostly represents women who intended some breastfeeding. Responders were more educated and included more younger women, private insurance users, non-Hispanic white women, and women with fewer children than nonresponders. The study was not designed to detect small differences by gestational diabetes history, and some differences were not significant after adjustment. Prepregnancy weight and glycemic control were not measured, so these possible influences on milk supply could not be checked.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that gestational diabetes itself caused earlier formula use or shorter feeding at the breast. This was a self-reported survey, and some differences were not significant after adjustment.