Interventions That Support Breastfeeding for Women With Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Naema Alatawi, Rowena Ivers, Maria Mackay and 1 others
PMID 41699902WHAT IT FOUND
Breastfeeding support for mothers with gestational diabetes raised chances of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks, 3 to 4 months, and 6 months, and any breastfeeding at birth and 6 months.
It did not raise any breastfeeding at 6 weeks or 3 to 4 months.
Key findings
01Compared with control, breastfeeding support increased exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks, 3 to 4 months, and 6 months.
02Compared with control, breastfeeding support increased any breastfeeding at birth and 6 months, but not at 6 weeks or 3 to 4 months.
03The included interventions varied in methods, intensity, and timing, and many combined multiple approaches.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most studies were not blinded, so participants and researchers knew the support received, which could bias self-reported breastfeeding outcomes. Some randomized trials had possible bias, missing outcome data, or unclear outcome measurement. In some lifestyle-focused studies, breastfeeding was assessed as a secondary outcome. Heterogeneity was moderate to high for exclusive breastfeeding at 3 to 4 months and for any breastfeeding at 6 weeks and 3 to 4 months. Only Arabic and English studies were included. Intervention definitions, intensity, timing, and delivery varied widely, and few studies incorporated specific cultural factors. Baby Friendly Hospital status was not reported. Limited studies for some outcomes restricted subgroup analyses and comparability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the pooled results as proof that one specific breastfeeding intervention works for every woman with gestational diabetes. Some studies assessed breastfeeding as a secondary outcome, the interventions combined different education, counseling, lifestyle, skin-to-skin, and milk-expression components, some outcomes had high heterogeneity, and any breastfeeding did not improve at 6 weeks or 3 to 4 months.