Breastfeeding Difficulties Due to Obesity During Pregnancy

Obesity has become more prevalent during pregnancy. Obese pre-pregnancy and excessive gestational weight gain can delay the process of lactogenesis, reveals a new study. Typically, within 50 to 72 hours of giving birth, a woman will begin to secrete copious milk in a process called lactogenesis II.

Infants of mothers who want to breastfeed but who have delayed lactogenesis II experience excessive weight loss and therefore are at high risk for formula supplementation.

The study was led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing’s Diane Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, the Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition.

The study has been published in the Journal of Human Lactation.

"Because nearly one in four women in the United States begins pregnancy with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30, the study underscores the need for targeted interventions and support to help these women achieve their personal breastfeeding goals," explains Spatz.

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Source-Eurekalert