A recent study published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine, highlights the link between gestational diabetes type 1 or 2 and reduced breast milk production in women. The lactation undermined by diabetes: this is the first time that research highlight the phenomenon. These were conducted by scientists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in the United States.
The scientists reached these conclusions by studying the medical records of some 640 pregnant women, records of their pregnancy and the first three months after delivery. According to these studies, 15% of women with low milk production developed diabetes during pregnancy, compared to only 6% of women with normal milk production. According to the researchers of the study, high glycemia during the gestation period, as well as obesity, is a factor for limiting milk production in the mother.
Further work is now needed to understand the influence of maternal diabetes on lactation . This work could also help develop therapies to increase milk production in women. The stakes are crucial because there are currently few solutions to relieve women who can not breastfeed. WHO estimates that less than 40% of infants are exclusively breastfed before 6 months of age worldwide. The average duration of breastfeeding would be only 2 years in UAE.
The Source of this artcile: Amedame
Healthy Motherhood 