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... All papers related to maternal overweight and obesity and infant feeding were located and included if appropriate. Papers that were case studies, clinical papers or reviews were not included in the tables [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Research studies were also identified from the reference lists of included articles, and the authors' literature collection was hand-searched (n = 2230; nine additional studies). ...
... Some women with large breasts have broad areolae (rather than conical) with short nipples making it difficult to attach the baby [19]. Lactation consultants have noticed that the weight of a large, heavy breast on the infant's chest can interfere with successful attachment [21]. ...
Breastfeeding behaviour is multifactorial, and a wide range of socio-cultural and physiological variables impact on a woman's decision and ability to breastfeed successfully. An association has been reported between maternal obesity and low breastfeeding rates. This is of public health concern because obesity is rising in women of reproductive age and the apparent association with increased artificial feeding will lead to a greater risk of obesity in children. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between maternal overweight and obesity and breastfeeding intention and initiation and duration.
A systematic review was conducted in January and February 2007, using the following databases: Medline, CINAHL and the Australian Breastfeeding Association's Lactation Resource Centre. Studies which have examined maternal obesity and infant feeding intention, initiation, duration and delayed onset of lactation were tabulated and summarised.
Studies have found that obese women plan to breastfeed for a shorter period than normal weight women and are less likely to initiate breastfeeding. Of the four studies that examined onset of lactation, three reported a significant relationship between obesity and delayed lactogenesis. Fifteen studies, conducted in the USA, Australia, Denmark, Kuwait and Russia, have examined maternal obesity and duration of breastfeeding. The majority of large studies found that obese women breastfed for a shorter duration than normal weight women, even after adjusting for possible confounding factors.
There is evidence from epidemiological studies that overweight and obese women are less likely to breastfeed than normal weight women. The reasons may be biological or they may be psychological, behavioral and/or cultural. We urgently need qualitative studies from women's perspective to help us understand women in this situation and their infant feeding decisions and behaviour.
... Some women with large breasts have broad areolae (rather than conical) with short nipples making it difficult to attach the baby. Lactation consultants have noticed that the weight of a large, heavy breast on the infant's chest can interfere with successful attachment [34]. ...
Keywords: Maternal; Obesity; Exclusive Breastfeeding; Lactogenesis
... 42 Some researchers also suggest that overweight women often have large heavy breasts, and flat nipples, which may difficult the correct positioning and latching of the baby´s mouth at the breast. [43][44][45] In addition to impairing the proper emptying of the breast and reducing the hormonal stimulation needed for milk production, incorrect latch on can lead to nipple trauma, which may lead some mothers to stop breastfeeding. 3,36 Mok et al, 46 accordingly, found that obese women more often reported breastfeeding difficulties during the first months postpartum, including cracked nipples and insufficient milk supply. ...
To examine the relationship between maternal prepregnancy weight, gestational weight gain and early introduction of non-breast milk foods and fluids (EINB) in the first month of life, we investigated 592 adult women and their newborns, admitted at health care units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. EINB was defined as the introduction of water, tea, juice, other types of milk or food during the first month postpartum. Logistic regression models were used for the analyses. Prepregnant obese women had increased odds of EINB as compared to those with normal weight (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23-3.71). Overweight and obese women who exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain had significantly greater odds of EINB (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.16-4.51, and OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 1.49-7.47, respectively), compared with those with normal weight and adequate gestational weight gain. These findings highlight the importance of providing overweight/obese women with proper lactation guidance in the early postpartum to support for exclusive breastfeeding practices.
Rates of prepregnancy obesity are rising in many countries around the globe, and epidemiologic data suggest a direct link between maternal prepregnancy BMI and offspring obesity. Maternal obesity coupled with lack of breastfeeding has been associated with a sixfold increased risk for child obesity. Moreover, population subgroups of women in many countries with the highest burden of obesity also have the lowest rates of initiation and shortest durations of breastfeeding, presenting an alarming possibility of a transgenerational cycle of obesity and associated chronic disease. Evidence is also mounting that lactation may be beneficial to women's future health including protection against development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life. The reasons for poor breastfeeding rates among overweight and obese women are likely to be multifactorial including biologic, sociocultural, and behavioral factors. High quality research on the predictors, barriers, and specific effects of breastfeeding on maternal and child health are needed to inform and promote targeted clinical and public health interventions. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights are reserved.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity has independent effects on breastfeeding initiation and duration and whether these effects are different for women who experience medical problems during pregnancy or labor/delivery complications in comparison with those who have no medical or labor/delivery complications.
We used the early childhood longitudinal study-birth cohort data. Kaplan-Meier survival functions, logistic, and Cox regression modeling were used in the analyses.
Findings indicate that overweight/obese women with medical or labor/delivery complications were less likely to initiate breastfeeding in comparison with their counterparts of normal weight. We did not find an independent effect of prepregnancy overweight/obesity on breastfeeding initiation among women with no medical problems. This group of women, however, had an 11% increased risk of stopping breastfeeding with each additional month of breastfeeding duration in comparison to those of normal weight.
It is important to evaluate the health history and pregnancy complications among overweight/obese mothers in developing interventions for successful initiation and duration of breastfeeding.
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